Capital City Classic: VCU Rams Weather Late Richmond Surge to Claim 97th Meeting, 78-67 (2-14-26)
By: Xavier Jones
Headline Photo Credit: VCU Athletics
Richmond, VA — February 14, 2026…In a rivalry as old as the city itself, the VCU Rams turned the Robins Center into a cauldron of frustration for the home crowd Saturday night, holding off a furious second-half rally from the Richmond Spiders to secure a 78-67 victory in the 97th installment of the Capital City Classic. The win extends VCU’s dominance in the series to 57-40 all-time and keeps the Rams firmly in the Atlantic 10 driver’s seat at 20-6 overall (11-2 conference), while Richmond slips to 14-11 (4-8), their postseason hopes flickering amid a string of tough losses.
The game, broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, evoked the gritty, blue-collar ethos that defines this intracity feud—two programs separated by just seven miles but worlds apart in momentum. VCU, riding an eight-game winning streak into the matchup, came out like a team possessed, torching the Spiders for 47 points in the first half on 18-of-30 shooting (60%). Led by sharpshooter Terrence Hill Jr., who drained four of his 10 three-point attempts before the break, the Rams built a commanding 20-point lead (47-27) at halftime, turning what promised to be a senior-night celebration for Richmond into a wake-up call.
However, the second half told a different story as Richmond clawed back and outscored the Rams 40-31. Guard Will Johnston, honored pregame as part of Richmond’s senior class, erupted for 13 of his game-high 17 points after intermission, including a trio of threes that sliced the deficit to single digits midway through the frame. Fellow senior AJ Lopez chipped in 14 points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, while big man Mike Walz stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
For a stretch, it felt like the script was flipping. Richmond’s press forced four VCU turnovers in the opening eight minutes of the half, and a Jaylen Robinson steal-and-score pulled the Spiders within eight (59-51) with 9:12 remaining. The Robins Center faithful erupted as if the ghosts of past upsets—like Richmond’s 62-60 thriller in 2023—were stirring. But the Rams’ depth and defensive resolve proved unbreakable. VCU’s bench, spearheaded by Michael Belle’s 7 points and 10 rebounds, clamped down with five blocks in the period, including three from forward Lazar Djokovic, who anchored the paint despite a quiet scoring night (5 points).
Hill Jr. capped his star-studded performance with 20 points, his 6-of-14 shooting a testament to VCU’s balanced attack. Jadrian Tracey added 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting, while Nyk Lewis (10 points) and Tyrell Ward (10 points off the bench) provided timely sparks—Lewis with a dagger three from the wing, Ward with a thunderous transition dunk that pushed the lead back to 12 late. The Rams’ 41 total rebounds (10 offensive) overwhelmed Richmond’s 32, translating to 17 second-chance points and underscoring VCU’s physical edge in a game that saw 40 combined fouls.
Statistically, it was a tale of two efficiencies. VCU connected on 42% of its field-goal attempts (25-of-59) and 33% from deep (11-of-33), while Richmond struggled at 35% from the floor (19-of-55) and a frigid 23% beyond the arc (5-of-22). The Spiders stayed afloat at the line (24-of-27, 89%), but their eight assists to VCU’s 15 highlighted the Rams’ superior ball movement—Barry Evans dished four dimes to go with five points and two steals. Turnovers were close (VCU 11, Richmond 8), but VCU capitalized with four steals, converting them into easy buckets.
This clash wasn’t just another A-10 checkbox; it’s woven into Richmond’s sporting DNA. Dating back to 1969, the Capital City Classic has mirrored the city’s own tensions and triumphs—VCU’s 2011 Final Four run casting long shadows over UR’s steady excellence. Saturday’s outcome bolsters VCU’s case as the conference’s top squad, positioning them a game behind Saint Louis for the regular-season crown with seven games left. For Richmond, it’s a gut check: Coach Mooney’s squad, once a bubble team, now stares at a must-win stretch against the conference’s bottom-feeders to salvage an NCAA Tournament bid.
As the final buzzer sounded, VCU’s players mobbed Hill Jr. at mid-court. The Spiders, heads bowed, can only tip their caps to a rival that, once again, left the River City bruised but unbroken, next up for the Rams: a home game against George Washington on Tuesday. For Richmond, it’s on the road against Davidson on Wednesday that suddenly feels like a referendum on their season.
Box Score Highlights:
VCU Rams (78)
• Terrence Hill Jr.: 20 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST
• Jadrian Tracey: 14 PTS, 2 REB
• Nyk Lewis: 10 PTS, 4 REB
• Tyrell Ward: 10 PTS
• Michael Belle: 7 PTS, 10 REB
Richmond Spiders (67)
• Will Johnston: 17 PTS, 3 REB
• AJ Lopez: 14 PTS, 3 AST
• Mike Walz: 10 PTS, 9 REB
• Aiden Argabright: 9 PTS
