By PAUL GOTHAM
Three weekends remain in the Atlantic 10 regular season. Separation is starting to occur at the top. Six nationally-televised games on tap. Here’s the rundown:
VCU (21-5/11-2) at Richmond (15-10/9-4) Friday 9 pm ESPN2
Justin Tillman scored 18, and Samir Doughty added 16 when VCU took the earlier meeting this season, 81-74. VCU tops the A-10 with a field-goal percentage of 47.2. Richmond limits opponents to 30.2 percent from behind the arc. The Spiders will look to close a two-game gap between themselves and their cross-town rivals. Richmond’s T.J. Cline scores 19.3 per game while handing out 5.4 assists. VCU has won seven straight. Mo Alie-Cox is VCU’s long arm of the law.
Davidson (13-11/6-7) at UMass (13-13/3-10) Saturday Noon NBC Sports Network
Peyton Aldridge (20.7 ppg) and Jack Gibbs (21.2 ppg), the nation’s second-highest scoring duo, will look to lead Davidson to its second straight win. The Wildcats lead the conference hitting nine 3-pointers per game. UMass freshman Dejon Jarreau hands out 4.3 assists per contest.
St. Bonaventure (16-9/8-5) at Dayton (20-5/11-2) Saturday 2 pm NBC Sports Network
St. Bonaventure leads the A-10 scoring 78.6 points per game. Dayton holds opponents to a conference best 64.2 points. Bona’s duo of Jaylen Adams (21.0 ppg) and Matt Mobley (19.2 ppg) leads the way for the Bonnies. UD’s Charles Cooke connects 41.1 (39 of 95) percent of the time from long range. Dayton leads the conference shooting 37.9 percent from the long range. The Flyers have won five in a row.
Saint Louis (9-17/4-9) at Fordham (11-15/5-8) Saturday 2 pm
Davell Roby is scoring 12 a game and handing out 3.5 assists for a Saint Louis squad which has won three of five. Antwoine Anderson (Bishop Kearney) scores 11.4 for Fordham while dishing 3.2 dimes. Fordham, looking for its second straight victory, leads the A-10 with 10.2 steals per game.
Saint Joseph’s (10-15/3-10) at La Salle (13-11/6-7) Saturday 4 pm CBS Sports Network
Chris Clover had 21 points when Saint Joseph’s knocked off La Salle, 73-72 earlier this season. But the Hawks will be without Lamarr Kimble who scored the game winner in the previous meeting. Kimble suffered a season-ending injury. B.J. Johnson scores 18 a game while grabbing 6.2 rebounds for La Salle.
Rhode Island (16-9/8-5) at George Mason (18-8/8-5) Saturday 4 pm NBC Sports Network
Rhode Island is coming off a stunning loss to Fordham. Marquise Moore paces George Mason which has won five straight. Moore grabs 10.5 rebounds per game for a club leading the conference with a rebound margin of 7.7. Rhode Island’s 12.1 offensive boards tops the Atlantic 10. URI’s Hassan Martin grabs 6.5 caroms and blocks three shots per outing.
George Washington (13-13/5-8) at Duquesne (10-16/3-10) Sunday Noon NBC Sports Network
Jim Ferry’s Duquesne Dukes will look make two wins in a row when they host the Colonials, who lost last time out. Mike Lewis II (13.8 ppg) leads Duquesne. Tyler Cavanaugh (17 ppg, 7.9 rpg) paces GW.
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