Shulga scores 18, VCU holds off George Mason 68-63 to claim Atlantic 10 title and NCAA berth
AP
Mar 16, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) Max Shulga scored 18 points and Joe Bamisile sealed the win with two free throws with a half-second left as Virginia Commonwealth held off George Mason Patriots 66-63 to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament championship Sunday.
VCU Rams led by eight at the break, 36-28, but George Mason got back-to-back 3-pointers from Jared Billups and Woody Newton to trail by just two, 45-43 with more than 12 minutes to play. Shulga answered with a 3 and hit a pair of free throws before finding Jack Clark for a 3 to push the VCU lead to 53-43.
Darius Maddox hit a 3 with 2:27 left to get the Patriots within one at 59-58. Coming out of a timeout, Shulga held the ball at the top of the key, then calmly knocked down a step-back 3 with 1:59 left. Jalen Haynes' layup with 39 seconds left got George Mason within 3 but Zach Anderson missed a 3-pointer with :04 left and Newton was forced to foul Bamisile with a half-second left.
Bamisile and Jack Clark each scored 17 points for VCU (28-6). Shulga, the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, hit 8 of 9 from the line as the Rams converted 22 of 27.
Haynes led George Mason (26-8) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Maddox had 12 points to go with three steals and Anderson and Brayden O'Connor each added 10 points.
Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason finished the regular season tied for the regular season championship with 15-3 records. The Rams reached the conference championship game for the ninth time since joining the A-10 in 2012-13.
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1st Half
GMU
Patriots
28
VCU
Rams
36
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jalen Haynes vs. Luke Bamgboye (Rams gains possession)
19:42
+2
Phillip Russell makes two point jump shot
0-2
19:13
+2
Darius Maddox makes two point jump shot
2-2
18:45
Phillip Russell turnover (lost ball) (Darius Maddox steals)
18:37
Jack Clark blocks Woody Newton's two point layup
18:35
Luke Bamgboye defensive rebound
18:31
+3
Phillip Russell makes three point jump shot (Joe Bamisile assists)
2-5
18:31
Jalen Haynes shooting foul (Phillip Russell draws the foul)
18:31
+1
Phillip Russell makes regular free throw 1 of 1
2-6
18:08
Brayden O'Connor misses two point layup
18:06
Jack Clark defensive rebound
17:59
Phillip Russell misses three point jump shot
17:57
Woody Newton defensive rebound
17:53
Jalen Haynes misses two point layup
17:51
Zach Anderson offensive rebound
17:46
+2
Zach Anderson makes two point layup
4-6
17:37
Darius Maddox personal foul
17:27
Joe Bamisile misses three point jump shot
17:25
Brayden O'Connor defensive rebound
17:12
Joe Bamisile personal foul
17:12
Woody Newton misses three point jump shot
17:10
Max Shulga defensive rebound
16:55
Joe Bamisile turnover (lost ball) (Woody Newton steals)
16:47
+2
Jalen Haynes makes two point layup (Brayden O'Connor assists)
6-6
16:25
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point layup
6-8
16:00
Brayden O'Connor misses two point layup
15:58
Luke Bamgboye defensive rebound
15:30
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
15:28
Zach Anderson defensive rebound
15:18
Luke Bamgboye blocks Zach Anderson's two point layup
15:16
Patriots offensive rebound
15:15
TV timeout
15:00
+2
Darius Maddox makes two point jump shot (K.D. Johnson assists)
8-8
14:29
Jack Clark misses three point jump shot
14:27
Patriots defensive rebound
14:15
Brandon Jennings personal foul
14:02
K.D. Johnson misses two point jump shot
14:00
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
13:52
+3
Jack Clark makes three point jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
8-11
13:32
Darius Maddox misses two point layup
13:30
Giovanni Emejuru offensive rebound
13:24
+2
Giovanni Emejuru makes two point layup
10-11
13:17
Christian Fermin misses two point layup
13:15
Christian Fermin offensive rebound
13:07
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
13:05
K.D. Johnson defensive rebound
12:50
K.D. Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Jack Clark steals)
12:46
+2
Jack Clark makes two point layup
10-13
12:46
Woody Newton shooting foul (Jack Clark draws the foul)
12:46
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 1
10-14
12:31
Christian Fermin personal foul
12:23
Jalen Haynes turnover (bad pass) (Phillip Russell steals)
12:18
Brayden O'Connor shooting foul (Zeb Jackson draws the foul)
12:18
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-15
12:18
+1
Zeb Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-16
12:05
Joe Bamisile personal foul
11:48
+3
Jalen Haynes makes three point jump shot
13-16
11:21
Phillip Russell turnover (lost ball) (Zach Anderson steals)
11:21
TV timeout
11:01
Zach Anderson misses three point jump shot
10:59
Michael Belle defensive rebound
10:36
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
13-19
10:19
+3
Brayden O'Connor makes three point jump shot (Jalen Haynes assists)
16-19
9:56
Christian Fermin misses two point jump shot
9:54
Zach Anderson defensive rebound
9:36
+2
Brayden O'Connor makes two point jump shot
18-19
9:09
K.D. Johnson personal foul
9:04
Max Shulga turnover (bad pass)
9:04
Patriots 30 second timeout
8:47
Luke Bamgboye blocks Jared Billups's two point layup
8:45
Patriots offensive rebound
8:36
Zeb Jackson blocks Brayden O'Connor's three point jump shot
8:34
Brandon Jennings defensive rebound
8:14
Brandon Jennings misses two point layup
8:12
Luke Bamgboye offensive rebound
8:08
Luke Bamgboye misses two point layup
8:06
Brayden O'Connor defensive rebound
7:58
Giovanni Emejuru offensive foul
7:58
Giovanni Emejuru turnover (offensive foul)
7:58
TV timeout
7:36
+2
Max Shulga makes two point layup
18-21
7:17
Justin Begg misses two point jump shot
7:15
Jalen Haynes offensive rebound
7:10
Jalen Haynes turnover (bad pass) (Jack Clark steals)
7:03
Zeb Jackson misses two point jump shot
7:01
Jalen Haynes defensive rebound
7:01
Brandon Jennings personal foul
6:38
Woody Newton misses three point jump shot
6:36
Joe Bamisile defensive rebound
6:17
+3
Joe Bamisile makes three point jump shot (Jack Clark assists)
18-24
5:56
+2
Justin Begg makes two point jump shot
20-24
5:25
Phillip Russell misses three point jump shot
5:23
Woody Newton defensive rebound
5:06
Jack Clark blocks Jared Billups's two point layup
5:04
Patriots offensive rebound
5:01
Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
4:59
Phillip Russell defensive rebound
4:51
Jack Clark misses three point jump shot
4:49
Luke Bamgboye offensive rebound
4:48
Luke Bamgboye turnover (bad pass) (Woody Newton steals)
4:45
Phillip Russell shooting foul (Jared Billups draws the foul)
4:45
Phillip Russell flagrant 1 (K.D. Johnson draws the foul)
4:45
Phillip Russell turnover
4:45
Official timeout
4:45
+1
Jared Billups makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-24
4:45
+1
Jared Billups makes regular free throw 2 of 2
22-24
4:45
+1
K.D. Johnson makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2
23-24
4:45
+1
K.D. Johnson makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2
24-24
4:39
Darius Maddox misses two point layup
4:37
Patriots offensive rebound
4:24
Jared Billups misses two point jump shot
4:22
Jack Clark defensive rebound
4:17
K.D. Johnson personal foul (Jack Clark draws the foul)
4:17
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-25
4:17
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-26
3:54
Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
3:54
Jack Clark defensive rebound
3:54
Jared Billups personal foul (Jack Clark draws the foul)
3:54
TV timeout
3:54
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-27
3:54
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
24-28
3:37
Jack Clark blocks Jalen Haynes's two point layup
3:35
Patriots offensive rebound
3:26
Jalen Haynes misses two point layup
3:24
Jack Clark defensive rebound
3:01
Jump ball. Max Shulga vs. Jalen Haynes (Jalen Haynes gains possession)
3:01
Max Shulga turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Haynes steals)
3:01
Official timeout
3:01
Jalen Haynes technical foul
3:01
Christian Fermin technical foul
2:45
Joe Bamisile shooting foul (Brayden O'Connor draws the foul)
2:45
+1
Brayden O'Connor makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-28
2:45
+1
Brayden O'Connor makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-28
2:33
Jared Billups personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
2:33
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-29
2:33
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-30
2:07
Brandon Jennings shooting foul (Darius Maddox draws the foul)
2:07
+1
Darius Maddox makes regular free throw 1 of 2
27-30
2:07
+1
Darius Maddox makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-30
1:49
+3
Jack Clark makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
28-33
1:20
K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot
1:18
Michael Belle defensive rebound
0:51
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
0:49
Luke Bamgboye offensive rebound
0:49
Giovanni Emejuru personal foul (Luke Bamgboye draws the foul)
0:49
Luke Bamgboye misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:49
+1
Luke Bamgboye makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-34
0:24
K.D. Johnson turnover (lost ball)
0:03
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
0:01
Luke Bamgboye offensive rebound
0:01
+2
Max Shulga makes two point layup (Luke Bamgboye assists)
28-36
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
GMU
Patriots
35
VCU
Rams
32
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:43
Woody Newton blocks Joe Bamisile's two point layup
19:41
Brayden O'Connor defensive rebound
19:28
Woody Newton misses three point jump shot
19:28
Zach Anderson offensive rebound
19:28
+3
Brayden O'Connor makes three point jump shot (Zach Anderson assists)
31-36
19:15
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
19:13
Zach Anderson defensive rebound
18:52
Luke Bamgboye blocks Jalen Haynes's two point layup
18:50
Jalen Haynes offensive rebound
18:48
Jalen Haynes misses two point layup
18:46
Luke Bamgboye defensive rebound
18:30
Phillip Russell misses three point jump shot
18:28
Joe Bamisile offensive rebound
18:28
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point driving layup
31-38
18:06
Luke Bamgboye personal foul
17:54
+3
Zach Anderson makes three point jump shot (Darius Maddox assists)
34-38
17:35
Zach Anderson blocks Max Shulga's two point layup
17:33
Rams offensive rebound
17:28
Woody Newton shooting foul (Jack Clark draws the foul)
17:28
Jack Clark misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:28
+1
Jack Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2
34-39
17:19
Darius Maddox misses three point jump shot
17:17
Max Shulga defensive rebound
17:04
Joe Bamisile turnover (lost ball)
16:46
Phillip Russell personal foul (Brayden O'Connor draws the foul)
16:33
Jalen Haynes misses two point layup
16:31
Jalen Haynes offensive rebound
16:31
Jalen Haynes misses two point jump shot
16:29
Jalen Haynes offensive rebound
16:28
Jack Clark personal foul (Jalen Haynes draws the foul)
16:24
Brayden O'Connor misses three point jump shot
16:22
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
16:02
Jack Clark misses two point jump shot
16:00
Joe Bamisile offensive rebound
15:59
Darius Maddox personal foul (Joe Bamisile draws the foul)
15:59
TV timeout
15:51
Phillip Russell misses two point layup
15:49
Jared Billups defensive rebound
15:33
Christian Fermin shooting foul (Jalen Haynes draws the foul)
15:33
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
35-39
15:33
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
36-39
15:27
Brayden O'Connor personal foul (Brandon Jennings draws the foul)
15:15
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point driving layup
36-41
15:15
K.D. Johnson shooting foul (Joe Bamisile draws the foul)
15:15
+1
Joe Bamisile makes regular free throw 1 of 1
36-42
14:49
K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot
14:47
Christian Fermin defensive rebound
14:34
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point driving floating jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
36-44
14:34
Zach Anderson shooting foul (Joe Bamisile draws the foul)
14:34
+1
Joe Bamisile makes regular free throw 1 of 1
36-45
14:08
Brandon Jennings shooting foul (Jalen Haynes draws the foul)
14:08
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-45
14:08
Jalen Haynes misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:08
Michael Belle defensive rebound
13:41
Jalen Haynes personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
13:39
Zeb Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Darius Maddox steals)
13:28
Christian Fermin blocks Jalen Haynes's two point hook shot
13:25
Patriots offensive rebound
13:23
K.D. Johnson misses two point layup
13:21
Max Shulga defensive rebound
12:57
Christian Fermin turnover (lost ball) (Woody Newton steals)
12:49
+3
Jared Billups makes three point jump shot (K.D. Johnson assists)
40-45
12:24
Christian Fermin turnover (bad pass) (Darius Maddox steals)
12:15
+3
Woody Newton makes three point jump shot (Darius Maddox assists)
43-45
12:08
Rams 30 second timeout
12:08
TV timeout
11:59
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
11:57
Woody Newton defensive rebound
11:45
Luke Bamgboye blocks Woody Newton's two point driving layup
11:43
Jack Clark defensive rebound
11:32
Jack Clark misses two point layup
11:30
Woody Newton defensive rebound
11:22
Woody Newton turnover (lost ball) (Zeb Jackson steals)
11:22
+3
Max Shulga makes three point jump shot (Joe Bamisile assists)
43-48
10:57
K.D. Johnson turnover (bad pass)
10:57
TV timeout
10:37
Joe Bamisile turnover (bad pass) (K.D. Johnson steals)
10:35
K.D. Johnson misses two point layup
10:33
Jalen Haynes offensive rebound
10:16
Jalen Haynes misses two point layup
10:16
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
10:16
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
10:15
Max Shulga offensive rebound
10:15
K.D. Johnson personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
10:15
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-49
10:15
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
43-50
9:55
Darius Maddox turnover (bad pass) (Max Shulga steals)
9:46
Zeb Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Jared Billups steals)
9:46
Jared Billups turnover (bad pass) (Zeb Jackson steals)
9:46
Zeb Jackson turnover (out of bounds)
9:23
Jalen Haynes turnover (traveling)
9:06
+3
Jack Clark makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
43-53
8:42
+2
Jalen Haynes makes two point layup (Zach Anderson assists)
45-53
8:23
Jalen Haynes shooting foul (Joe Bamisile draws the foul)
8:23
Joe Bamisile misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:23
Joe Bamisile misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:23
Jared Billups defensive rebound
7:54
Brayden O'Connor misses two point layup
7:52
Michael Belle defensive rebound
7:45
Joe Bamisile misses three point jump shot
7:43
Giovanni Emejuru defensive rebound
7:28
+3
Darius Maddox makes three point jump shot (Brayden O'Connor assists)
48-53
6:57
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
6:55
Brayden O'Connor defensive rebound
6:46
Brayden O'Connor turnover (bad pass) (Michael Belle steals)
6:39
Jump ball. Joe Bamisile vs. Jared Billups (Patriots gains possession)
6:39
Joe Bamisile turnover (lost ball) (Jared Billups steals)
6:39
TV timeout
6:27
Max Shulga personal foul (Brayden O'Connor draws the foul)
6:08
Darius Maddox misses two point jump shot
6:06
Jack Clark defensive rebound
5:39
Jared Billups blocks Phillip Russell's three point stepback jump shot
5:37
Rams offensive rebound
5:35
Rams turnover (shot clock violation)
5:13
Luke Bamgboye personal foul (Zach Anderson draws the foul)
5:13
+1
Zach Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
49-53
5:13
+1
Zach Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-53
4:45
Jared Billups shooting foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
4:45
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 3
50-54
4:45
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 3
50-55
4:45
Max Shulga misses regular free throw 3 of 3
4:45
Jalen Haynes defensive rebound
4:19
+3
Zach Anderson makes three point jump shot (Jalen Haynes assists)
53-55
3:50
+2
Joe Bamisile makes two point driving floating jump shot
53-57
3:20
+2
Jalen Haynes makes two point driving layup (Zach Anderson assists)
55-57
2:59
+2
Luke Bamgboye makes two point bank jump shot (Zeb Jackson assists)
55-59
2:30
+3
Darius Maddox makes three point jump shot (Jared Billups assists)
58-59
2:25
Rams 30 second timeout
2:25
TV timeout
2:00
+3
Max Shulga makes three point stepback jump shot
58-62
1:42
Max Shulga personal foul (Zach Anderson draws the foul)
1:42
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 1 of 2
59-62
1:42
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-62
1:27
Joe Bamisile misses two point driving layup
1:25
Luke Bamgboye offensive rebound
1:25
+2
Luke Bamgboye makes two point putback dunk
60-64
1:07
Jack Clark shooting foul (Jalen Haynes draws the foul)
1:07
Jalen Haynes misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:07
+1
Jalen Haynes makes regular free throw 2 of 2
61-64
1:07
Patriots 30 second timeout
0:52
Jared Billups personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
0:52
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-65
0:52
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 2
61-66
0:39
+2
Jalen Haynes makes two point layup (Brayden O'Connor assists)
63-66
0:39
Luke Bamgboye shooting foul (Jalen Haynes draws the foul)
0:39
Jalen Haynes misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:39
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
0:14
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
0:12
Jalen Haynes defensive rebound
0:03
Zach Anderson misses three point jump shot
0:01
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
0:00
Woody Newton personal foul (Joe Bamisile draws the foul)
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