ST. LOUIS -- Mo Alie-Cox had 16 points, Melvin Johnson had 12 of his 15 in the second half on Sunday and VCU pulled away from Saint Louis 72-56 after a strange first half.

VCU scored the first 13 points of the game, Saint Louis didn't make its first field goal until the 6:31 mark and finished the half 2 for 13. Yet the Billikens only trailed 29-25 because they made 20 of 23 free throws. Milik Yarbrough's 3 at 1:39 was the second basket and Miles Reynolds followed with 4 of 5 free throws to close the half. Reynolds was 0 for 2 from the field but had 10 points.

VCU went on a 16-0 run, started and finished by Alie-Cox, early in the second half to take control.

Korey Billbury added 14 points for the Rams (11-5, 3-0 Atlantic 10).

Reynolds had 17 for the Billikens (6-9, 1-2), who were 12 of 22 from the field in the second half.