By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSBURGH, PA — Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed sparked a 10-2 run midway through the first half, and the VCU Rams took a 36-31 lead over the Richmond Spiders into the locker room at halftime of the Atlantic 10 semifinal at PPG Paints Arena.
Hamdy converted one of two free throws and followed with spectacular block of a Khwan Fore dunk attempt at the other end of the floor. The senior forward followed with an assist to Doug Brooks and scored in the lane for a 16-10 VCU advantage.
Malik Crowfield hit a three to push the lead to nine at 19-10.
VCU took its largest lead of the half with 5:34 to go when Mo Alie-Cox finished a jump hook in the lane.
Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, T.J. Cline scored in the post, and De’Monte Buckingham drilled a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the top of the arc to cut the margin to five at 36-31 before the end of the half.
Buckingham led all scorers at half with 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting including 3-of-3 behind the arc.
Cox paced VCU with eight.
Richmond converted eight VCU turnovers into a 10-3 advantage in points off miscues.
VCU outscored Richmond 24-12 in the paint. VCU shot 15 of 25 (60 percent) for the first half.
VCU defeated Richmond twice during the regular season.
The winner of the game plays No. 4-seed Rhode Island in Sunday’s championship game.
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