From the play-in game to the second round, Virginia Commonwealth University only wanted to prove one thing — that they belong in the tournament with the big boys.
They made that statement loud and clear on Friday night when they cruised to a shocking 74-56 upset over No. 6-seeded Georgetown.
It was the first time in school history that the VCU Rams won more than one game in the NCAA tournament, and it was the worst loss for Georgetown since the 1996 East regional finals. The No. 11-seeded Rams never faltered throughout the matchup, while the Hoyas continually struggled.
VCU senior Brandon Rozzell led the team with 26 points off the bench, while three other players also reached double digits in the commanding victory. Playing in front of fans waving handmade signs emblazoned with the message "We Belong," the Rams proved they are up to the March Madness challenge.
The Rams looked at this unlikely bid into the NCAA Tournament as an opportunity to prove their critics wrong, and they became the only play-in team to move past the second round with their unbelievable upset on Friday night.
"Anytime people disrespect you, especially on national TV, it kind of hurts you," senior Joey Rodriguez said. "We had an opportunity to come out here and prove people wrong and hopefully we can keep it going."
The Rams will now move on to play third-seeded Purdue on Sunday in the Southwest regional.
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