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Ram fever starts with 2K Classic

10/30/2015, 8:20 p.m.
If dunks were donuts, Justin Tillman would be rich in sweet treats today. The 6-foot-7 Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore displayed ...
Junior Mo Alie-Cox dunks with authority during Virginia Commonwealth University’s fan-packed Black & Gold Game last Saturday at the Siegel Center. The Black Team won the scrimmage 85-76. Photo by James Haskins

If dunks were donuts, Justin Tillman would be rich in sweet treats today.

The 6-foot-7 Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore displayed his expertise with basketball’s high percentage shot before 5,223 fans during VCU’s Black & Gold Game Oct. 24 at the Siegel Center.

In helping the Black Team — basically VCU’s first string — to a 85-76 victory over the Gold Team, Tillman entertained with six dunks (he was 9-for-11 overall from the floor) en route to 20 points and 10 rebounds.

“He dunks everything and I love it,” said first-year Coach Will Wade. “But sometimes I worry about Justin breaking the backboards.”

Tillman will try for similar results 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in a homecourt exhibition against California University of Pennsylvania.

California University is a NCAA Division II program coached by Bill Brown, a former mentor of ex-VCU Coach Shaka Smart.

Based on action at the Black & Gold Game, Coach Wade may be leaning toward a lineup of junior JeQuan Lewis and senior Mel Johnson in the backcourt, senior transfer Korey Billbury on the wing, and Tillman and junior Mo Alie-Cox down low.

Tillman, aka “Dr. Detroit,” hails from Pershing High School in the Motor City, which also produced NBA players Spencer Haywood, Kevin Willis and Ralph Simpson, as well as Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs.

As a freshman, Tillman averaged a modest four points and three rebounds. The Rams hope he at least doubles those numbers this season.

Coach Wade’s first official game as VCU head coach will be Nov. 13 when Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU, comes to the Siegel Center for the opening of the 2K Classic benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.

Also for the 2K Classic, VCU will host Radford University on Nov. 16 before traveling to Madison Square Garden to face defending NCAA champion Duke University on Nov. 20 and either the University of Wisconsin or Georgetown University on Nov. 22.

In VCU’s visit to New York City last March, it won the Atlantic 10 Tournament at the Barclays Center in what would be Coach Smart’s final season with the Rams.