Saxen, Ducas score 17 each Saint Mary's beats VCU 63-51
![Virginia Commonwealth's Nick Kern (24) battles for a rebound against...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AODU5ZmNhZWEtYmM0NC00%3AZWEtYmM0NC00MmNjZjg3%2Fncaa-vcu-saint-marys-basketball.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Virginia Commonwealth's Nick Kern (24) battles for a rebound against St. Mary's Alex Ducas (44) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
ALBANY, N.Y. — Mitchell Saxen had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Saint Mary’s beat ailing VCU 63-51 in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Alex Ducas also scored 17 points as the fifth-seeded Gaels (27-7) advanced to the second round for the second straight year. Logan Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Augustas Marciulionis scored 13 points.
Ace Baldwin led VCU (27-8) with 13 points, but he appeared to sprain his right ankle on his landing after taking a jumper with just over 14 minutes left in regulation. The Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year lay on the court for a couple of minutes before receiving treatment on the bench and back in the locker room.
VCU was down 38-34 when Baldwin left and 48-39 when he came back with 9:03 left after the Gaels of the West Coast Conference went on a 10-5 spurt sparked by a three-point play by Kyle Bowen.
Saint Mary’s, which held a 37-29 rebounding edge, will play No. 4 seed UConn or 13th-seeded Iona and coach Rick Pitino on Sunday.
The NCAA appearance was the first for 12th-seeded VCU since it had to forfeit a game in the 2021 tournament because of a COVID-19 outbreak. The Rams had won nine in a row.
Saint Mary's held a 29-28 halftime lead in a rugged contest where neither team led by more than four points and tight, tough defense was the norm.
![Virginia Commonwealth's Adrian Baldwin Jr. (1) drives against St. Mary's...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3ANWQ4ZDJkOTItNWRhZC00%3AOTItNWRhZC00MGI4ZGNl%2Fncaa-vcu-saint-marys-basketball.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Virginia Commonwealth's Adrian Baldwin Jr. (1) drives against St. Mary's Logan Johnson (0) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
BIG PICTURE
VCU: The Rams have a lot coming back so they will be back.
Saint Mary's: It was a matchup of the Rams' up-tempo game and the Gaels' deliberate style. Saint Mary's got its pace and showed it can play defense, too.
UP NEXT
![Virginia Commonwealth's Adrian Baldwin Jr. (1) shoots against St. Mary's...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AYmQ3NjliOGUtMzIzYi00%3AOGUtMzIzYi00NDM3MmVj%2Fncaa-vcu-saint-marys-basketball.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Virginia Commonwealth's Adrian Baldwin Jr. (1) shoots against St. Mary's Mitchell Saxen (11) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
Saint Mary's got bounced in the second round by UCLA late year after beating Indiana by 29.