ESPN Men's Basketball

RICHMOND, Va. -- Juvonte Reddic scored 24 points and Virginia Commonwealth blitzed George Washington with an 18-6 run to close the first half, then never let the Colonials closer than 12 in a 84-57 victory Saturday night.

Troy Daniels, Rob Brandenburg and Melvin Johnson added 11 points each as the Rams (21-5, 9-2 Atlantic 10 Conference) won their fifth straight and second game in a span of less than 50 hours. They beat Massachusetts 86-68 late Thursday night, but shot 53.3 percent (32 of 60) against the Colonials.

George Washington (11-12, 5-5), playing for the first time in a week, got 10 points each from freshmen Kevin Larsen and Patricio Garino, but matched its season high with 25 turnovers. The Rams turned the giveaways into 27 points and held the Colonials to 38.9 percent shooting (21 of 54).

The Rams, who played perhaps their most complete game of the season in the rout of Massachusetts, showed no signs of fatigue, especially in the first half. After falling behind 8-2, they finished the half on a 40-16 run, getting 13 of their 19 steals and scoring on five 3-pointers and five dunks.

Reddic, who finished 11 for 13 from the field, was 6 for 6 in the half and scored 12.

Trailing 42-24, the Colonials scored six of the first nine points after halftime, but Reddic scored in the lane and Johnson hit a 3-pointer to boost the lead to 50-30.

When the Colonials made one final push, using a 10-4 run to pull within 63-51 with 9:41 to play, Daniels made a steal and dunk, and Briante Webber hit 3 of 4 free throws. A basket by Garino stopped the burst, but Reddic then scored on consecutive putbacks, the Ram' lead was 72-53 and they coasted to the finish.

The game kept VCU in first place in the league, but with a difficult week ahead. The Rams play at second-place Saint Louis Tuesday night, then travel to Xavier next Saturday.

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