VCU runs past Memphis to earn shot at Duke

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas - With less than 30 seconds to play in Virginia Commonwealth's first-round win at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Rams fans started chanting "We want Duke."

They got what they asked for.

Treveon Graham scored 26 points and Rob Brandenberg added 15 as VCU beat No. 19 Memphis 78-65 on Thursday night. VCU ( 3-1) will meet No. 5 Duke in today's semifinals. The Blue Devils beat Minnesota, 89-71.

"Playing Duke, what an incredible opportunity," VCU coach Shaka Smart said. "We'll be facing arguably the best program in the nation and with no argument the best coach in the modern era.

"But we won't fold up to the test."

They certainly didn't in beating Memphis. The Rams used their frenetic style of play to take a 16-point lead in the first half only to see the Tigers pull to within 63-61 with 4:05 to play.

VCU then went on an 11-0 run, with all the points scored by Graham and Brandenberg. Brandenberg hit two 3s in the run and Graham one as the Rams finished 13-for-22 from behind the arc.

"We had them on their heels in the first half," Smart said. "The overall style of play took a lot out of both teams, but we practice that way."

Adonis Thomas had 19 points for the Tigers (2-1), who committed 22 turnovers that the Rams turned into 33 points.

The Rams weren't perfect, committing 19 turnovers that Memphis turned into 23 points.

The difference turned out to be 3-point shooting. Memphis outshot VCU from the field, making 27 of 51 (52.9 percent) while the Rams were 26 of 54 (48.1 percent). But while the Rams were making 13 of 22 from beyond the arc, the Tigers only made 2 of 7.

"You can't win a high-level game by committing 22 turnovers and giving up 3s like we did,' Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. "I'm proud of my guys for the way they battled back. But one of my pet peeves is giving up 3s, and they shot the daylights out of it."

VCU calls its style "havoc," and coming into the game, the Rams had forced 19.7 turnovers per game while leading the nation with 14.1 steals per game. The Rams had 14 against Memphis.

"When they came out and tried to play our style with us we felt good," Smart said.