Nov. 22, 2012

There were three Thanksgiving Day games on the docket for the A-10 and VCU secured the league's second win over a ranked opponent this week by beating No. 19 Memphis. Charlotte had a late game scheduled against Texas State.

VCU 78, No. 19 Memphis 65

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) - Treveon Graham scored 26 points and Rob Brandenberg added 15, including two late 3-pointers, and VCU beat No. 19 Memphis 78-65 on Thursday night In the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Rams used their frenetic style of play to take a 16-point lead in the first half only to see the Tigers get to 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.

VCU ( 3-1) will meet No. 5 Duke in Friday's semifinals. The Blue Devils beat Minnesota 89-71.

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


Pacific 70, Xavier 67

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Trevin Harris scored 16 points Thursday and Pacific held on to beat Xavier 70-67 in the opener of the DirecTV Classic.

Travis Fulton and Tony Gill scored 10 points apiece for the Tigers (2-2), leading Pacific's 28-2 advantage in bench scoring.

Semaj Christian had 18 points and six assists to lead the Musketeers (3-1). Xavier trailed 70-61 with 20 seconds to play but 3-pointers by Dee Davis and Justin Martin helped the Musketeers get within three points.

After a missed free throw by Pacific, Davis had a chance to tie with a 3 but missed.

Davis finished with 14 points, Travis Taylor scored 13 and Martin had 11 points for Xavier. The Musketeers scored the first nine points but the Tigers pulled even at 13 and led 32-30 at the break.

Pacific will play Saint Mary's on Friday while Xavier will face Drexel.