SLU faces A-10 favorite VCU at Chaifetz Arena: live updates

1:10, second half: A scuffle in the VCU section has delayed things as the security guards deal with that. A lot of shoving that appears to now be under control. SLU leads 69-63.

3:58, second half: SLU is on the verge of its biggest win in two years after a foul called on VCU’s Max Shulga entering that TV timeout. The Billikens are still up 60-53.

VCU has missed eight straight shots and hasn’t scored in nearly four minutes.

Gibson Jimerson has 11 points in the second half and 21 for the game.

4:49, second half: Gibson Jimerson knocked down a 3-pointer to give SLU its biggest lead of the game at 60-53.

Timeout VCU. The Rams haven’t scored in three minutes.

7:59, second half: After VCU’s Zeb Jackson scored five straight points to give the Rams the lead, Gibson Jimerson drew Jackson’s fourth foul and scored on the play to regain SLU’s edge.

Robbie Avila is driving the ball far more aggressively this half. He has seven points in the half and 12 for the game.

This is easily the best game at Chaifetz Arena this season.

11:39, second half: Dylan Warlick is playing some good minutes in relief of Kalu Anya, who has three fouls. Warlick also has three.

Warlick just grabbed an offensive board and drew a foul. SLU is up 45-42.

Warlick’s scrappy play is also igniting the crowd. He was pressed into service partway into the season due to injuries.

15:36, second half: Gibson Jimerson’s jumper cut the deficit to three just after Phillip Russell hit a 3-pointer to give the Rams their biggest lead of the game.

Three SLU starters, Swope, Avila and Anya, have two fouls.

Halftime: Kobe Johnson missed an open 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, and SLU trails going into the locker room.

SLU has missed five of its last six shots.

Gibson Jimerson leads SLU with 10 followed by Johnson with nine. Isaiah Swope (two points) and Robbie Avila (five points) have been relatively quiet.

Zeb Jackson and Phillip Russell each have eight to lead VCU.

VCU has nine offensive rebounds to SLU’s zero and a 10-0 edge in second-chance points.

2:39, first half: VCU hit its second 3-pointer of the game, by Zeb Jackson, and the Rams lead this physical game. The Rams are 2-of-14 from 3-point range.

SLU’s Robbie Avila picked up his first three points, a basket and foul off a nice under-the-basket assist from Kalu Anya.

Isaiah Swope picked up his second foul, joining teammate Dylan Warlick and VCU’s Zeb Jackson with two.

7:42, first half: SLU’s offense has started to sputter a bit, but VCU hasn’t been able to capitalize and the Billikens lead 18-17. At one point in that stretch, VCU missed five straight shots. SLU is up to four turnovers on the game.

SLU coach Josh Schertz is going to his bench a bit more than usual, with Warlick, Pikaar and McCottry all seeing several minutes.

11:45, first half: Gibson Jimerson just finished off a driving layup and drew the foul to give SLU a three-point lead. He’ll have a free throw after the TV timeout.

Jimerson has five and Kobe Johnson seven. Johnson is driving with confidence.

VCU has two offensive rebounds and SLU has one turnover, two areas of concern entering the game.

15:56, first half: SLU has hit its first two 3-point tries, a good sign for a team that’s been slumping from 3. Gibson Jimerson and Kobe Johnson hit the two treys.

Before the game, St. Louis native and VCU guard Phillip Russell came out pointing at the student section with a big smile on his face as he was announced. He relishes playing the villain on the road. He later motioned at SLU students to get louder. Things may get interesting later between he and the crowd.

6:50 p.m.: Two weeks after the first meeting, St. Louis University hopes for a better outcome as it hosts Atlantic 10 preseason favorite Virginia Commonwealth at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.

VCU pummeled SLU 78-62 in Richmond in that first meeting. The Rams killed SLU with offensive rebounds, and SLU shot itself in the foot with its season-worst 29.8% turnover rate.

Ken Pomeroy gives SLU a 31% chance to win and has VCU, thge 35th-best teim in the country, prevailing 72-66.

SLU has been in a 3-point shooting slump, shooting about 20% from 3-point range in each of its last three games. The Billikens may need to break out of that funk to have a chance.

Tom Timmermann’s full game preview is linked below. The game airs on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy and Chris Walker on the call.

Stay tuned and refresh this page for live updates from the game.