MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jayden Reid carried Memphis most of the night and then finished the job at the foul line, sinking two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to give the Tigers an 89-88 win over VCU in their home opener at FedExForum.
Those were the go-ahead points, and the first time Memphis led after halftime. VCU, which got votes in the preseason poll, scored the first six points after intermission to stretch its lead to 10. The Tigers kept closing the gap, and after the Rams moved ahead 87-84 on a layup with 1:33 to play, Reid answered from the right side with a 3 that made it 87-87 with 1:19 left.
VCU split a pair of free throws with 49 seconds left. Memphis missed several looks before grabbing an offensive rebound with 19 seconds to go, and Reid drove to the rim, drew a foul and made both shots. The Rams missed a long two at the horn, and Julius Thedford pulled down the final rebound.
Reid, a senior, shot 11 of 21 from the field, added seven assists and three steals, and passed 1,000 points for his college career. Tylik Weeks and Rihards Vavers each scored 17, with Vavers hitting four of his five 3-point tries.
VCU was hot from deep all night, making 13 of 24 from beyond the arc, including 10 in the first half to lead 48-44 at the break. Blake Harper led the Rams with 22 points, and Ahmad Nowell had 17.
It was a strong all-around night on the glass as well, with Corneilous Williams grabbing a team-best six rebounds as Memphis edged VCU 30-28 on the boards. VCU made 23 of its 27 free throws. Memphis is 2-0 and has won its home opener 25 years running, including all nine under Penny Hardaway. VCU fell to 1-1.
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