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DAYTON, Ohio – The individual best performance in the "First Four" came from a guard who insists he's in a shooting slump.
Melvin Johnson III scored a career-high 29 points during Texas-San Antonio's 70-61 win over Alabama State. He outscored the Hornets 25-21 in the first half, hitting one open shot after another while wearing bright orange shoes with "SWISH" scribbled on the sides.
"It seems like the last four or five games, I can't make a shot," Johnson said. "I have `SWISH' on the side of my shoes because I used to make shots. I might have to black it out for now."
Might as well leave it there for the trip to Cleveland, where the Roadrunners (20-13) will play top-seeded Ohio State on Friday fresh off the first NCAA tournament win in their school's history.
"If it gets any bigger than this, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it," freshman Jeromie Hill said.
Virginia Commonwealth sure proved it could handle it.
After hearing almost every basketball expert question whether they had any business being in the field of 68, the Rams went out and made their case on the court.
"You guys think Jay Bilas watched that game?" VCU coach Shaka Smart said with a wide grin, referring to the ESPN analyst, after the Rams beat fellow 11-seed Southern California 59-46 in a bruising, physical, foul-plagued nightcap.
Jamie Skeen scored 16 points and VCU more than held its own inside against the bigger and stronger Trojans.
"It feels really good because a lot of people were doubting us," Skeen said. "We were able to come out and prove some people wrong. Instead of just talking about it, we just came out here and played."
The Rams (24-11) pulled away down the stretch to set up a game against sixth-seeded Georgetown (21-10) on Friday in Chicago.
Joey Rodriguez had eight points and five assists for VCU, but was one of many standouts for the Rams.
Melvin Johnson III scored a career-high 29 points during Texas-San Antonio's 70-61 win over Alabama State. He outscored the Hornets 25-21 in the first half, hitting one open shot after another while wearing bright orange shoes with "SWISH" scribbled on the sides.
"It seems like the last four or five games, I can't make a shot," Johnson said. "I have `SWISH' on the side of my shoes because I used to make shots. I might have to black it out for now."
Might as well leave it there for the trip to Cleveland, where the Roadrunners (20-13) will play top-seeded Ohio State on Friday fresh off the first NCAA tournament win in their school's history.
"If it gets any bigger than this, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it," freshman Jeromie Hill said.
Virginia Commonwealth sure proved it could handle it.
After hearing almost every basketball expert question whether they had any business being in the field of 68, the Rams went out and made their case on the court.
"You guys think Jay Bilas watched that game?" VCU coach Shaka Smart said with a wide grin, referring to the ESPN analyst, after the Rams beat fellow 11-seed Southern California 59-46 in a bruising, physical, foul-plagued nightcap.
Jamie Skeen scored 16 points and VCU more than held its own inside against the bigger and stronger Trojans.
"It feels really good because a lot of people were doubting us," Skeen said. "We were able to come out and prove some people wrong. Instead of just talking about it, we just came out here and played."
The Rams (24-11) pulled away down the stretch to set up a game against sixth-seeded Georgetown (21-10) on Friday in Chicago.
Joey Rodriguez had eight points and five assists for VCU, but was one of many standouts for the Rams.
