VCU Edges Saint Louis in Tight Atlantic 10 Matchup

The Rams hold off the Billikens in a battle for conference supremacy.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the VCU Rams defeated the Saint Louis Billikens 65-60 in a close-fought game at Chaifetz Arena. The Rams, who came into the game riding a 10-game winning streak, held off a late Billikens surge to secure the victory and maintain their position atop the conference standings.

Why it matters

This game had major implications for the Atlantic 10 title race, as both VCU and Saint Louis were vying for the top spot in the conference. The win keeps VCU in control of their own destiny, while the loss drops Saint Louis out of first place and raises questions about their ability to bounce back from their second defeat of the season.

The details

VCU jumped out to an early lead, going up by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, Saint Louis fought back and cut the deficit to just 9 points at the 8-minute mark of the opening period. The Rams were able to maintain their advantage throughout the second half, but the Billikens made a late push and closed the gap to just 5 points in the final minute. Ultimately, VCU was able to hold on for the 65-60 victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • VCU and Saint Louis had previously met on January 7th, with Saint Louis winning 71-62.

The players

VCU Rams

The VCU Rams are the basketball team of Virginia Commonwealth University, located in Richmond, Virginia. They compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Saint Louis Billikens

The Saint Louis Billikens are the basketball team of Saint Louis University, located in St. Louis, Missouri. They also compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us against a very tough opponent. Our guys really battled and showed a lot of heart out there tonight.”

— Mike Rhoades, Head Coach, VCU Rams (VCU Athletics)

“We just couldn't quite get over the hump tonight. VCU made the plays when they needed to and we came up short. But we'll regroup and be ready for the next one.”

— Travis Ford, Head Coach, Saint Louis Billikens (Saint Louis Athletics)

What’s next

The win keeps VCU in first place in the Atlantic 10 standings, while the loss drops Saint Louis into second place. Both teams will have key conference games coming up as they jockey for position heading into the A-10 tournament.

The takeaway

This hard-fought battle between two of the Atlantic 10's top teams lived up to the hype, with VCU narrowly holding off a late Saint Louis comeback to maintain their conference lead. The win underscores VCU's status as the team to beat in the A-10, while also showing that Saint Louis remains a formidable challenger despite the setback.