The semifinals of the A-10 tournament set the matchup for the championship game on Sunday. But it was not without some drama and great play, as the A-10 is now in position to become a two-bid league.
Semifinal #1: No. 1 VCU , No. 4 Loyola Chicago
Both teams came into the semifinals, matching the intensity that propelled them past the quarterfinal matchups. With just under six minutes to play in the first half, the score was knotted up at 21, courtesy of Loyola’s Des Watson. However, after that, the Rams finished the first 20 minutes on a 15-6 run, taking a 36-27 lead into the half.
In the second, the Ramblers slowly battled back, taking their first lead at 51-50 with five minutes remaining. But the Rams responded in the best way they know, defensive domination. VCU went on to outscore the Ramblers 12-4 in the final five minutes, to earn a spot in the A-10 Tournament Championship game tomorrow.
Semifinal #2: No 2. George Mason 74, No. 6 Saint Joseph’s 64
George Mason came out in the semifinal looking as if they would roll to the championship game against VCU. After opening up an early 25-7 lead over Saint Joseph’s, the Patriots gave a little back before halftime. After 20 minutes, GMU led 37-28 over the Hawks.
However, the second half saw the Hawks cut the lead to just one only four minutes into the second half. But similar to the first 20 minutes, the Patriots pulled away and controlled the game, earning a spot in the A-10 Tournament Championship against VCU.
Takeaway #1: VCU owned crunch time
In the final five minutes of both halves, the Rams went on strong runs to grab firm control of the game. In the first half, after being tied with Loyola Chicago at 21, a 15-6 run followed. During that run, the Ramblers went 2-8 from the field.
Then in the second half, after Loyola Chicago took their first lead of the second half at 51-50, VCU’s head coach, Ryan Odom, called a timeout with exactly five minutes remaining.
“We were a little bit out of sorts. Sometimes you have to get your guys back, not in check, but realizing and remembering who they are and how they want to play,” Coach Odom said.
In the final five minutes, the Rams’ defensive intensity picked up. The Ramblers finished the game on a five-minute streak without making a field goal. Over that time, the Rams put the game away as they finished on a 12-4 run, with all four of LUC’s points coming from the free throw line.
It pays to be clutch in crunch time, and with a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line against George Mason, the Rams will need every ounce of that clutch gene.
Takeaway #2: Jalen Haynes
As the Patriots earned a spot in the A-10 championship game against VCU, the majority of the domination came from George Mason’s big man, Jalen Haynes. The senior had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win.
At 6-foot-8 and 265 pounds, Jalen Haynes is the only true mismatch in the A-10. After the game, he was asked about his performance in the win.
“The scouting report, they know I can score, so just being able to make some plays as well, helps us win,” Haynes said.
As a member of the A-10’s All-Conference first team, Haynes understands what it takes to perform at the highest level. He is one of the most dominant players in the conference this year and when he gets hot, it is almost impossible to stop Haynes around the rim.
Haynes’s six assists also get his teammates involved, working the ball inside, and then out to open shooters. Haynes also has a redshirt year available, after not playing in the 2023-2024 season. As a multi-dimensional player, do not be surprised to see the forward making noise and beyond.
If George Mason makes a run at the A-10 Championship, it will be on the back of Jalen Haynes.
Takeaway #3: The A-10 can be a 2-bid league
With VCU making it to the A-10 Tournament championship game, the road for the conference to grab two bids to the NCAA Tournament is alive. VCU currently ranks 31st in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which in theory would place them into the tournament win or lose.
According to Joe Lunardi, Dayton is a member of the “First Four Out.” But with the opportunity to play their way in, spoiled in the quarterfinals, the Flyers’ hopes are all but dashed.
With that being said, if VCU were to fall in the championship game of the A-10 tournament, then a bid stealer is in play. But VCU’s ranking in the NET and domination in the A-10 is a highly competitive resume to keep their hopes of dancing alive.
However, the current bubble is filled with teams from powerhouse conferences, like Ohio State, Indiana, Texas, and North Carolina. Which raises the question for the selection committee, who gets the bid, a household name? Or VCU, who ranks in front of all those bubble teams in the NCAA’s primary sorting tool.
What’s Next
A-10 Tournament Championship: No. 1 VCU vs No. 2 George Mason at 1:00 p.m. on CBS