Billups scores 23, Jackson 22 to lead VCU past Penn State to get 86-74 win in ESPN tourney
AP
Nov 26, 2023
KISSIMMEE, Fla (AP) Alphonzo Billups III scored a career-high 23 points, Zeb Jackson added 22 and VCU Rams turned back Penn State Nittany Lions 86-74 in the seventh-place game at the ESPN Events Invitational on Sunday.
The Rams went 7 of 11 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 from the foul line in the second half to secure the win. Billups hit all five of his shots, including four 3-pointers, scoring 14 points after the break.
Max Shulga made all 10 of his free throws and scored 19 points for the Rams (4-3) and Toibu Lawal added 11. Michael Belle had nine rebounds and Jackson seven with six assists.
With Billups making a career best fives 3s with just one miss, VCU was 8 of 15 behind the arc and shot 54% overall.
Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 17 points with five assists for the Nittany Lions (4-3), who arrived at the tournament undefeated but lost three times by double figures. Qudus Wahab added 14 points and D'Marco Dunn 11. Dunn was 3 for 3 from distance and scored all 11 points in the first half but Penn State finished 5 of 17 behind the arc.
Lawal made a layup and Jackson a 3-pointer to put VCU ahead for good, 62-57, midway through the second half. Jackson's 3 capped an 8-0 run for a 77-64 lead with 4:22 to play. Billups' 3 made it a 14 point game 30 seconds later.
Nick Kern made consecutive layups to cut the deficit to 82-74 but the Rams wrapped it up with four free throws.
Jackson and Shulga both scored 12 points and VCU, which led by as many as nine, took a 46-40 halftime lead. The teams combined for 24 fouls and went 26 of 35 from the foul line. Baldwin had 13 points for the Penn State.
The Rams head home for six games through December, starting with Norfolk State on Friday. The Nittany Lions return home to play Bucknell on Saturday.
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1st Half
PSU
Nittany Lions
40
VCU
Rams
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Qudus Wahab vs. Christian Fermin (Max Shulga gains possession)
19:53
Max Shulga misses two point jump shot
19:51
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
19:23
Max Shulga blocks Ace Baldwin Jr.'s two point jump shot
19:21
Kuany Kuany defensive rebound
19:13
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point layup (Michael Belle assists)
0-2
19:02
Zach Hicks misses three point jump shot
19:00
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
18:47
Ace Baldwin Jr. blocks Christian Fermin's two point jump shot
18:45
Christian Fermin offensive rebound
18:45
Nick Kern Jr. personal foul
18:26
+2
Michael Belle makes two point jump shot
0-4
18:23
Kuany Kuany personal foul
18:03
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point layup
2-4
17:37
Zeb Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Ace Baldwin Jr. steals)
17:32
Qudus Wahab turnover (lost ball) (Zeb Jackson steals)
17:24
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point jump shot
2-6
17:00
Qudus Wahab misses two point jump shot
16:58
Kuany Kuany defensive rebound
16:48
Kanye Clary shooting foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
16:48
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
2-7
16:48
Zeb Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:48
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
16:30
Nick Kern Jr. misses two point layup
16:28
Michael Belle defensive rebound
16:23
Alphonzo Billups III misses three point jump shot
16:21
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
16:09
Max Shulga shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
16:09
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:09
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:09
Max Shulga defensive rebound
15:50
Max Shulga turnover (lost ball) (Zach Hicks steals)
15:41
Michael Belle personal foul (D'Marco Dunn draws the foul)
15:41
TV timeout
15:37
Zach Hicks misses two point jump shot
15:35
Max Shulga defensive rebound
15:23
Michael Belle turnover (bad pass) (Puff Johnson steals)
15:12
Toibu Lawal blocks D'Marco Dunn's two point layup
15:10
Max Shulga defensive rebound
14:59
+2
Toibu Lawal makes two point dunk (Zeb Jackson assists)
2-9
14:38
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup
4-9
14:05
Rams turnover (shot clock violation)
13:43
+3
D'Marco Dunn makes three point jump shot
7-9
13:21
Christian Fermin misses two point jump shot
13:19
Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
13:11
+3
D'Marco Dunn makes three point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)
10-9
13:10
Rams 30 second timeout
13:10
D'Marco Dunn technical foul
13:10
+1
Max Shulga makes technical free throw 1 of 2
10-10
13:10
+1
Max Shulga makes technical free throw 2 of 2
10-11
12:50
Max Shulga misses two point jump shot
12:48
Christian Fermin offensive rebound
12:48
Christian Fermin turnover (lost ball) (Puff Johnson steals)
12:48
Christian Fermin personal foul
12:32
D'Marco Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Christian Fermin steals)
12:23
Alphonzo Billups III turnover (bad pass)
12:06
RayQuawndis Mitchell misses two point layup
12:04
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
11:50
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point layup
10-13
11:37
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point jump shot
12-13
11:20
Michael Belle misses two point layup
11:18
RayQuawndis Mitchell defensive rebound
11:10
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:08
Toibu Lawal defensive rebound
10:44
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
10:42
Nittany Lions defensive rebound
10:42
TV timeout
10:20
Christian Fermin shooting foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
10:20
Nick Kern Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:20
+1
Nick Kern Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-13
10:01
Qudus Wahab blocks Zeb Jackson's two point layup
9:59
Zeb Jackson offensive rebound
9:51
+2
Roosevelt Wheeler makes two point layup (Zeb Jackson assists)
13-15
9:37
+2
Puff Johnson makes two point layup
15-15
9:14
+2
Kuany Kuany makes two point jump shot
15-17
9:14
Kuany Kuany technical foul
9:14
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes technical free throw 1 of 2
16-17
9:14
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes technical free throw 2 of 2
17-17
8:50
Roosevelt Wheeler shooting foul (Nick Kern Jr. draws the foul)
8:50
+1
Nick Kern Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-17
8:50
+1
Nick Kern Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-17
8:27
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point layup
19-19
8:27
Qudus Wahab shooting foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
8:27
Zeb Jackson misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:27
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
8:27
Jump ball. (Nittany Lions gains possession)
8:03
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup
21-19
7:43
+2
Max Shulga makes two point jump shot
21-21
7:35
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point jump shot
7:33
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
7:27
Zach Hicks shooting foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
7:27
TV timeout
7:27
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-22
7:27
Zeb Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:27
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
7:27
Toibu Lawal personal foul (Zach Hicks draws the foul)
7:27
Zach Hicks misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:27
Michael Belle defensive rebound
7:14
+2
Max Shulga makes two point layup
21-24
6:50
+2
D'Marco Dunn makes two point jump shot
23-24
6:25
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point jump shot
23-26
6:15
Roosevelt Wheeler personal foul (Qudus Wahab draws the foul)
6:15
+1
Qudus Wahab makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-26
6:15
+1
Qudus Wahab makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-26
6:01
+3
Alphonzo Billups III makes three point jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
25-29
5:49
D'Marco Dunn turnover (traveling)
5:36
Qudus Wahab personal foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
5:30
Leo O'Boyle shooting foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
5:30
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-30
5:30
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-31
5:09
Kuany Kuany personal foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
5:09
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-31
5:09
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-31
5:01
+2
Alphonzo Billups III makes two point layup
27-33
4:43
+3
D'Marco Dunn makes three point jump shot (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)
30-33
4:15
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
4:13
Puff Johnson defensive rebound
4:12
Toibu Lawal personal foul (Leo O'Boyle draws the foul)
4:12
+1
Leo O'Boyle makes regular free throw 1 of 2
31-33
4:12
+1
Leo O'Boyle makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-33
3:51
Zeb Jackson misses two point layup
3:39
RayQuawndis Mitchell defensive rebound
3:39
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:37
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
3:32
D'Marco Dunn personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
3:32
TV timeout
3:32
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-34
3:32
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-35
3:17
Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Max Shulga steals)
3:10
+2
Toibu Lawal makes two point layup (Max Shulga assists)
32-37
2:45
Nick Kern Jr. turnover (lost ball)
2:33
+2
Michael Belle makes two point layup
32-39
2:31
Official timeout
2:15
+2
RayQuawndis Mitchell makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)
34-39
1:55
+2
Alphonzo Billups III makes two point layup (Zeb Jackson assists)
34-41
1:55
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point jump shot (Zach Hicks assists)
36-41
1:55
Zeb Jackson shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
1:55
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
37-41
1:31
RayQuawndis Mitchell shooting foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
1:31
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-42
1:31
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-43
1:10
Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
1:06
Puff Johnson misses two point jump shot
1:04
Nick Kern Jr. offensive rebound
0:56
Nick Kern Jr. misses two point layup
0:56
Max Shulga defensive rebound
0:56
Ace Baldwin Jr. shooting foul (Alphonzo Billups III draws the foul)
0:56
+1
Alphonzo Billups III makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-44
0:56
+1
Alphonzo Billups III makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-45
0:42
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:40
Michael Belle defensive rebound
0:33
RayQuawndis Mitchell personal foul (Michael Belle draws the foul)
0:33
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-46
0:33
Michael Belle misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:33
Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
0:07
Alphonzo Billups III shooting foul (Zach Hicks draws the foul)
0:07
+1
Zach Hicks makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-46
0:07
Zach Hicks misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:07
Puff Johnson offensive rebound
0:07
+2
Puff Johnson makes two point layup
40-46
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
PSU
Nittany Lions
34
VCU
Rams
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
Kuany Kuany misses two point jump shot
19:43
Qudus Wahab defensive rebound
19:10
Christian Fermin blocks D'Marco Dunn's two point layup
19:08
Kuany Kuany defensive rebound
18:54
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
18:52
Michael Belle offensive rebound
18:40
Zeb Jackson misses two point jump shot
18:38
Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
18:30
+3
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nick Kern Jr. assists)
43-46
18:16
Kuany Kuany turnover (bad pass) (Ace Baldwin Jr. steals)
18:12
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup
45-46
17:55
Max Shulga misses two point jump shot
17:53
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
17:33
Qudus Wahab misses two point jump shot
17:31
Christian Fermin defensive rebound
17:19
Zeb Jackson misses two point jump shot
17:17
Michael Belle offensive rebound
17:17
Nick Kern Jr. shooting foul (Michael Belle draws the foul)
17:17
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 1 of 2
45-47
17:17
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 2 of 2
45-48
17:06
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:04
Toibu Lawal defensive rebound
17:00
D'Marco Dunn personal foul
16:52
Christian Fermin misses two point layup
16:50
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
16:36
Christian Fermin shooting foul (Qudus Wahab draws the foul)
16:36
+1
Qudus Wahab makes regular free throw 1 of 2
46-48
16:36
+1
Qudus Wahab makes regular free throw 2 of 2
47-48
16:18
Max Shulga turnover (bad pass)
16:00
Zach Hicks misses three point jump shot
15:58
Qudus Wahab offensive rebound
15:56
Roosevelt Wheeler shooting foul (Nittany Lions draws the foul)
15:56
TV timeout
15:56
Roosevelt Wheeler technical foul
15:56
Nittany Lions technical foul
15:56
Nittany Lions turnover
15:56
Qudus Wahab misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:56
Qudus Wahab misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:56
Roosevelt Wheeler defensive rebound
15:35
Zeb Jackson turnover (lost ball) (Zach Hicks steals)
15:20
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)
49-48
15:02
Zach Hicks shooting foul (Toibu Lawal draws the foul)
15:02
Toibu Lawal misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:02
+1
Toibu Lawal makes regular free throw 2 of 2
49-49
14:48
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point jump shot
14:46
Rams defensive rebound
14:33
+3
Max Shulga makes three point jump shot
49-52
14:22
+2
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes two point layup
51-52
14:22
Zeb Jackson shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
14:22
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1
52-52
14:04
Nick Kern Jr. personal foul (Alphonzo Billups III draws the foul)
13:48
Zeb Jackson misses two point jump shot
13:48
Rams offensive rebound
13:48
Rams technical foul
13:48
Rams turnover
13:48
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes technical free throw 1 of 2
53-52
13:48
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses technical free throw 2 of 2
13:45
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
13:43
RayQuawndis Mitchell defensive rebound
13:35
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point dunk
55-52
13:19
+3
Alphonzo Billups III makes three point jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
55-55
12:58
Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Max Shulga steals)
12:50
+2
Max Shulga makes two point dunk
55-57
12:30
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point layup (Ace Baldwin Jr. assists)
57-57
12:15
+2
Toibu Lawal makes two point layup
57-59
11:47
Jameel Brown turnover (traveling)
11:47
TV timeout
11:40
Toibu Lawal offensive foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
11:40
Toibu Lawal turnover (offensive foul)
11:21
Puff Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:19
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
11:07
Qudus Wahab blocks Zeb Jackson's two point layup
11:05
D'Marco Dunn defensive rebound
10:53
D'Marco Dunn misses two point jump shot
10:51
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
10:36
Michael Belle turnover (lost ball)
10:13
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses two point jump shot
10:11
Rams defensive rebound
9:48
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot
57-62
9:23
Alphonzo Billups III shooting foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
9:23
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
58-62
9:23
+1
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
59-62
9:11
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point layup
59-64
8:46
Kanye Clary misses two point jump shot
8:44
Rams defensive rebound
8:20
Nick Kern Jr. blocks Michael Belle's two point jump shot
8:18
Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
7:58
TV timeout
7:45
Michael Belle blocks Ace Baldwin Jr.'s two point layup
7:43
Nittany Lions offensive rebound
7:43
Zach Hicks misses three point jump shot
7:41
Max Shulga defensive rebound
7:29
+2
Toibu Lawal makes two point dunk (Max Shulga assists)
59-66
7:06
+3
Ace Baldwin Jr. makes three point jump shot
62-66
6:39
+3
Alphonzo Billups III makes three point jump shot (Christian Fermin assists)
62-69
6:13
+2
Qudus Wahab makes two point jump shot
64-69
5:47
+3
Alphonzo Billups III makes three point jump shot (Michael Belle assists)
64-72
5:39
Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
5:39
TV timeout
5:29
Toibu Lawal personal foul (Ace Baldwin Jr. draws the foul)
5:29
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:29
Ace Baldwin Jr. offensive rebound
5:29
Jump ball. (Nittany Lions gains possession)
5:17
D'Marco Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Alphonzo Billups III steals)
5:15
+2
Alphonzo Billups III makes two point layup
64-74
5:15
Zach Hicks shooting foul (Alphonzo Billups III draws the foul)
5:15
Alphonzo Billups III misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:15
Michael Belle offensive rebound
5:12
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
5:10
Ace Baldwin Jr. defensive rebound
5:08
Ace Baldwin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Michael Belle steals)
5:03
Michael Belle misses two point layup
5:01
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
4:58
Alphonzo Billups III blocks Zach Hicks's three point jump shot
4:56
Qudus Wahab offensive rebound
4:48
Christian Fermin personal foul (Qudus Wahab draws the foul)
4:48
Qudus Wahab misses regular free throw 1 of 1
4:48
Michael Belle defensive rebound
4:22
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot
64-77
4:08
Christian Fermin shooting foul (Puff Johnson draws the foul)
4:08
+1
Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
65-77
4:08
+1
Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
66-77
3:59
Rams 30 second timeout
3:59
TV timeout
3:53
+3
Alphonzo Billups III makes three point jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
66-80
3:35
Michael Belle shooting foul (RayQuawndis Mitchell draws the foul)
3:35
RayQuawndis Mitchell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:35
+1
RayQuawndis Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
67-80
3:22
Michael Belle turnover (traveling)
3:08
Zeb Jackson shooting foul (Puff Johnson draws the foul)
3:08
+1
Puff Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
68-80
3:08
Puff Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:08
Michael Belle defensive rebound
2:56
Max Shulga turnover (lost ball) (Zach Hicks steals)
2:51
+2
Zach Hicks makes two point layup
70-80
2:35
Qudus Wahab shooting foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
2:35
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-81
2:35
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
70-82
2:23
Nick Kern Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:21
Max Shulga defensive rebound
1:53
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
1:51
Nick Kern Jr. defensive rebound
1:41
Nick Kern Jr. turnover (lost ball)
1:31
Toibu Lawal turnover (lost ball) (Nick Kern Jr. steals)
1:21
Alphonzo Billups III blocks Ace Baldwin Jr.'s two point jump shot
1:19
RayQuawndis Mitchell offensive rebound
1:15
+2
Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup (RayQuawndis Mitchell assists)
72-82
0:54
Zeb Jackson misses two point layup
0:52
Zach Hicks defensive rebound
0:46
+2
Nick Kern Jr. makes two point layup
74-82
0:46
Nittany Lions 60 second timeout
0:39
Nick Kern Jr. personal foul (Toibu Lawal draws the foul)
0:39
+1
Toibu Lawal makes regular free throw 1 of 2
74-83
0:39
+1
Toibu Lawal makes regular free throw 2 of 2
74-84
0:30
Ace Baldwin Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:28
Michael Belle defensive rebound
0:20
RayQuawndis Mitchell personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
