Clark, Davis help UMass knock VCU out of first, 69-63

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) Donte Clark scored 22 points and Trey Davis had 18, including three free throws in the final 20 seconds, and UMass knocked VCU out of the Atlantic 10 lead with a 69-63 win on Thursday night.

VCU, which had its 12-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, pulled within 65-63 on a Melvin Johnson layup with just under a minute left, but the Rams then missed a jumper and two free throws following an offensive rebound.

On the next possession, UMass' Zach Coleman was fouled, made the first of two free throws and then rebounded his miss, which led to two free throws for Davis with 20 seconds remaining for a 67-63 lead.

Tyler Begantino then blocked a JeQuan Lewis shot with 14 seconds left and got the ball, passing to Davis, who made the clinching free throws with 11 seconds to play.

UMass (10-13, 3-8) led 43-32 at the half.

Lewis and Korey Billbury had 15 points apiece for the Rams (17-7, 9-2), which fell a half-game behind Dayton.