VCU Routes NJIT 87-49 at Siegel Center
Torey Alston scored 19 points as VCU pulled away after halftime in its first game since losing to Memphis.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Basketball
VCU men's basketball defeated NJIT 87-49 on Wednesday night at the Siegel Center in Richmond. The win followed a loss to Memphis the previous Saturday and was built on a 43-28 halftime lead.
Why it matters
The result gives VCU a bounce-back win after its first defeat of the early season, with the team's paint scoring and free-throw efficiency driving the margin. For Richmond fans, it is an early sign of how the roster responds to adversity.
Torey Alston led all scorers with 19 points on 80% shooting, and VCU recorded 21 assists against NJIT's five. The extraction does not provide season-long comparisons for either team.
The players
VCU Men's Basketball
The Virginia Commonwealth University men's basketball program, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference based in Richmond, Virginia.
Phil Martelli Jr.
The head coach of VCU men's basketball, who challenged the team's discipline at halftime of this game.
Torey Alston
A VCU men's basketball player who led the game with 19 points on 80% shooting.
The details
VCU attacked the rim repeatedly and scored 20 paint points before halftime, while Blake Harper's lob to Torey Alston produced an early slam. Head coach Phil Martelli Jr. challenged the team's discipline at halftime, and VCU responded by limiting NJIT to 21 second-half points.
Timeline
Saturday: VCU lost to Memphis.
Wednesday night (November 11, 2026): VCU defeated NJIT 87-49 at the Siegel Center.
Season Trajectory
VCU's 87-49 win over NJIT came four days after its loss to Memphis, positioning the team to recover its early-season momentum. The result sets up the next stretch of the schedule as the program looks to build consistency after a setback against a higher-profile opponent.
The win moves VCU back into a positive stretch after the Memphis loss, which matters for conference seeding and tournament positioning. Fans can track how the team's bench and guard play develop in upcoming games against similar opponents.
The takeaway
VCU's ability to respond to a loss with a focused halftime adjustment and strong paint play is a useful measure of the team's resilience. Readers following the program can watch whether this level of discipline holds against tougher competition.
Further reading
For more on the program's recent results, explore Basketball coverage from Richmond.
