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VCU Wins Second Straight Atlantic 10 Tournament, Earns NCAA Bid
Rams defeat Dayton 70-62 to clinch spot in March Madness
Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:10pm
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VCU defeated Dayton 70-62 on Sunday to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament for the second straight year, earning a spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Nyk Lewis led the Rams with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Terrence Hill Jr. and Michael Belle added 14 and 12 points off the bench. Dayton was led by Javon Bennett's 14 points.
Why it matters
VCU's victory marks the program's 21st NCAA Tournament appearance, including a memorable Final Four run in 2011. The Rams have now won back-to-back Atlantic 10 titles, solidifying their status as a mid-major power. For Dayton, the loss ends their hopes of a 20th NCAA Tournament berth, though the Flyers have a storied history in the Big Dance, including a runner-up finish in 1967.
The details
VCU jumped out to a 16-10 lead early on, thanks to 3-pointers from Terrence Hill Jr. and Barry Evans. The Rams built a 40-25 halftime advantage and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half, despite a late push from Dayton. The Flyers cut the deficit to 7 points with just over 2 minutes remaining, but could not complete the comeback.
- The game was played on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
The players
Nyk Lewis
VCU forward who led the Rams with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Terrence Hill Jr.
VCU reserve guard who scored 14 points off the bench.
Michael Belle
VCU reserve forward who scored 12 points off the bench.
Javon Bennett
Dayton guard who led the Flyers with 14 points.
Amael L'Etang
Dayton forward who scored 12 points in the loss.
What’s next
VCU will now await its seeding and opponent for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which begins later this month.
The takeaway
VCU's second straight Atlantic 10 Tournament title solidifies the program's status as a mid-major power, while Dayton's loss ends their hopes of a 20th NCAA Tournament appearance despite the Flyers' storied history in the Big Dance.
