RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -Joey Rodriguez scored 14 straight points during a decisive second-half surge to lead Virginia Commonwealth past Saint Louis 68-56 on Monday night in the first game of the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational.
Saint Louis rallied to cut the deficit to 3 points with 14:30 left, but Rodriguez took over during a 14-4 run that gave the Rams a 55-42 lead with 11:55 to go. Rodriguez hit three 3-pointers during the run, including one that turned into a four-point play.
Rodriguez finished with a game-high 22 points and six assists for the Rams (26-9).
Willie Reed scored 11 points, and Kwamain Mitchell and Cody Ellis added 10 apiece for the Billikins (23-12).
The teams will play Game 2 of the best-of-three series in St. Louis on Wednesday.
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