Virginia Commonwealth has been talking about a breakout shooting game for a while. The Rams finally got it Wednesday against William and Mary.

  VCU shot 53.2 percent in an 87-78 Colonial Athletic Association victory. The Rams needed it, too, because they had problems on defense and surrendered their highest point total of the season.

  Juvonte Reddic had 20 points as the Rams (19-5, 10-2) won for the 16th time in 18 games and, with George Mason losing, moved into a tie for first in the CAA. Rob Brandenberg had 17 points, Troy Daniels 16 and Treveon Graham 13.

  VCU, which had shot better in its past two games (44.4 and 41.5 percent), shot 50 percent or better for just the third time this season.

  The Rams won the first meeting 69-68 in overtime on Jan. 19 at the Siegel Center when Darius Theus made a spinning shot in the lane with 9 seconds left.

    This one didn’t have quite the same drama, although William and Mary (4-20, 2-10) did stay within striking distance after VCU opened a 19-point lead in the second half.

    VCU once again had trouble containing the drives of Tribe guards Marcus Thornton (28 points) and Brandon Britt (19). William and Mary got within 10 with 8 minutes remaining before VCU pulled ahead 75-61 on Graham’s 3-pointer at the 6:55 mark.

    The Tribe went on a 7-0 run to trim the lead to seven. Still ahead by seven, Reddic got the ball in the low post, spun around and was fouled. He completed the three-point play to give VCU some breathing room with 1:57 remaining.

    William and Mary couldn’t get closer than eight the rest of the way.

    The Tribe’s leading scorer, Quinn McDowell, did not score until 15:19 remained in the second half. He finished with eight points on 2 of 7 shooting.

    VCU, which shot 54.8 percent in the first half, closed with a 17-7 run to take a 44-30 lead into the locker room. Seven of those points came in the last minute after William and Mary had whittled a double-digit deficit to 37-30.

    Reddic scored off a feed from Brandenberg, was fouled and completed the three-point play. Graham stole a ball near halfcourt and made a layup. And Bradford Burgess followed up a miss with 2 seconds left.

    The Rams connected on 6 of 11 3-pointers in the first half. Daniels made three and Graham pumped in two.

    VCU fell behind 12-5 before turning up the heat defensively. A 14-0 put William and Mary in catchup mode.