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Lewis leads tourney-tested VCU past Oregon State, 75-67

Virginia Commonwealth guard JeQuan Lewis (1) is fouled by Oregon State forward Jarmal Reid, right, as he shoots in the first half of a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Virginia Commonwealth guard JeQuan Lewis (1) is fouled by Oregon State forward Jarmal Reid, right, as he shoots in the first half of a first-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

By Associated Press March 18, 2016 1 min read

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – JeQuan Lewis had 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as 10th-seeded Virginia Commonwealth won its first NCAA Tournament game since 2013 with a 75-67 first-round victory over No. 7 seed Oregon State on Friday.

The tournament appearance is the sixth straight for VCU (25-10), and the experience showed as the Rams led by eight points at halftime and held off a charge by the Beavers in the second half.

Mo Alie-Cox added 20 points and was 7 of 8 from the field in the win, while Melvin Johnson also finished in double figures with 12 points.

Gary Payton II scored 19 points to lead the Beavers (19-13), who were making their first tournament appearance in 26 years, while Derrick Bruce finished with 15 and Drew Eubanks 13.