Rams turn back Vols in Tyndall’s opener

ANNAPOLIS, Md.— Josh Richardson and Detrick Mostella each scored 17 points for Tennessee, playing its first game under coach Donnie Tyndall, but the Volunteers couldn’t keep with No. 15 Virginia Commonwealth in an 85-69 loss Friday night.

The Volunteers have nine newcomers and only four scholarship players back from last season.

“We knew there would be three main keys: To handle their pressure and not turn it over; No. 2, to keep them off the offensive backboards; and No. 3, to get to the foul line more than them,” Tyndall said. “We didn’t achieve either of those.”

The Volunteers had 19 turnovers, yielded 23 offensive rebounds and were outscored 24-17 at the line.

Tennessee didn’t have the quickness or depth to hang with VCU, which returns six of its top eight scorers and is seeking a fifth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. A poor start didn’t help. “We just didn’t play well in the first half,” Tyndall said.

Melvin Johnson sure did. In addition to scoring 20 of VCU’s first 36 points, he called defensive plays, took charge of huddles at the foul line and had two of Rams’ eight steals.

Johnson had 20 of the Rams’ first 36 points. Even though he played only 13 minutes in the first half, he still had time to take 10 shots, get two steals and pick up an assist.

Johnson had a simple explanation for a first half in which he missed only two shots and scored 20 points.

“When I got the opportunity to shoot, I shot it,” he said. “It was just my day.”

Johnson finished with 23 points, and Treveon Graham had 15 points and 14 rebounds to help the Rams win their 10th straight season opener.

“That was one of the weirdest games I’ve coached at VCU. A lot of strange twists and turns,” coach Shaka Smart said. “I thought our guys responded well to some adversity.”

VCU played most of the game without starting point guard JeQuan Lewis, who left with 8:19 remaining in the first half after hitting his head on the court. The 6-1, 175-pound Lewis took a spill while going for a rebound against 6-10, 280-pound Vols forward Dominic Woodson.

Smart said Lewis has a concussion.

With Lewis out, Graham, a senior, and Johnson, a 6-3 junior, took over. After Johnson helped put the Rams ahead 48-30 at the break, Graham made the lead stand up in the second half.

“I thought these guys did a good job of leading our team when we could have gotten a little bit frazzled,” Smart said.

After falling behind 55-35 with 16:44 left, UT closed to 67-59 but could not complete the comeback.