No. 15 VCU takes down Toledo

Richmond, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Melvin Johnson and Treveon Graham each posted 22 points as No. 15 VCU used a late surge to dispatch Toledo, 87-78, at Siegel Center.

Briante Weber totaled 18 points for the Rams (2-0), while Jordan Burgess picked up 11 for the hosts.

"It was a good team win," VCU head coach Shaka Smart said. "I give our guys a lot of credit in the way we came back in the second half."

Nathan Boothe had 18 points and Julius Brown poured in 17 for the Rockets (1-1). Justin Drummond added 12 in a losing cause.

Drummond's bucket with 12:17 to play gave Toledo a 61-57 edge, but VCU pulled away from there.

Burgess scored five in a row, including a triple to put VCU up 62-61, then after Stuckey Mosley hit 1-of-2 from the line, Jarred Guest's slam gave the hosts the lead once more.

Drummond's layup pulled the Rockets to 73-72 with 3:23 on the clock before Graham's two from the line keyed a 9-0 run that included a triple from Johnson and ended with two free throws by Mo Alie-Cox with 1:14 showing that gave the Rams an 82-72 edge.

Toledo could only pull as close as seven the rest of the way.

The opening 20 minutes featured five ties, and neither team was able to gain separation until Toledo's 9-4 clip which provided a 37-31 advantage with 3:33 remaining before halftime thanks to a shot from distance by Boothe.

Mosley's basket with 1:10 left again gave the visitors a six-point edge but VCU closed the gap to 45-42 at the break on a Graham jumper.

A 14-8 surge early in the second half turned a three-point deficit into a three-point lead for the Rams as Graham completed the clip with a layup, but Toledo quickly responded with seven straight.

Game Notes

J.D. Weatherspoon totaled 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in defeat ... Toledo connected on 8-of-18 shots from beyond the arc, while VCU made 9-of-25 attempts.