RICHMOND – VCU broke the game open in the second half and posted an 85-61 victory over Saint Louis Friday night in Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball action at the Siegel Center.
 
The Billikens fall to 8-10 overall and 1-4 in A-10 play. VCU improves to 11-7 and 3-2 in the A-10.
 
Sincere Parker led the Billikens with 21 points. Parker was 6-of-14 from the field and 8-of-8 from the stripe.
 
Terrence Hargrove Jr. scored 10 points, while Kellen Thames chipped in with nine.
 
SLU shot 35.7 percent from the field and connected on just 4-of-20 3-pointers. The Billikens were 17-of-18 from the line.
 
VCU shot 50 percent and drilled seven 3-pointers in the second half. The Rams were led by Joe Bamisile, who scored 29 points off the bench on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from 3-point range.
 
Hargrove scored the first eight points for SLU as the Billikens led 8-3 early on, but that five-point advantage would the largest of the night for SLU.
 
The Rams responded with a 7-0 run to gain a lead, only to see the Billikens respond with a traditional 3-point play by Michael Meadows Jr. and a 3-pointer by Kellen Thames as SLU regained the lead at 16-15 with 10:26 remaining.
 
But VCU went on top from there and never looked back. The Rams led by 10 at halftime, 36-26, and stretched their advantage to 20-plus in the second half to post the home victory.
 
Saint Louis opens a two-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 24, against Davidson. Game time at Chaifetz Arena is 6 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised on Bally Sports Midwest.