Saint Louis Billikens Defeat VCU Rams in A-10 Matchup

Billikens' elite defense and efficient offense prove too much for Rams

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The #18 Saint Louis Billikens defeated the VCU Rams 78-67 in a key Atlantic 10 Conference matchup on Friday night. Saint Louis, led by a balanced scoring attack and the nation's top-ranked defense, used their size and shooting advantage to pull away from the Rams in the second half.

Why it matters

This win solidifies Saint Louis's position as a top contender in the A-10 and boosts their NCAA Tournament resume. VCU, while still having a strong season, was unable to overcome the Billikens' defensive intensity and efficient offense in this conference clash between two of the league's top teams.

The details

Saint Louis shot 51.7% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range, led by five players scoring in double figures. The Billikens' stifling defense held VCU to just 36.5% shooting and forced the Rams into 11 turnovers. Saint Louis also dominated the glass, outrebounding VCU 41-31.

  • The Billikens won 71-62 when these teams met on January 8th in Richmond.
  • This was the 20th meeting between the teams, with VCU holding a 15-4 advantage in the series prior to Friday's game.

The players

Robbie Avila

Saint Louis center who anchors the Billikens' offense with 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.

Terrence Hill Jr.

VCU's leading scorer, averaging 13.1 points per game to pace the Rams' balanced attack.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bring our 'A' game defensively to slow down VCU's offense. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan and making it tough for them to get good looks.”

— Travis Ford, Saint Louis Head Coach (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

“Saint Louis is just a really complete team. Their size, shooting, and defensive intensity were too much for us to overcome tonight.”

— Mike Rhoades, VCU Head Coach (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

What’s next

Saint Louis will look to build on this win as they continue their push for an A-10 regular season title and high NCAA Tournament seed. VCU will try to rebound from this loss as they fight to maintain their position in the conference standings.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between two of the A-10's top teams. Saint Louis's elite defense and efficient offense proved too much for VCU to handle, underscoring the Billikens' status as one of the nation's premier teams this season.