VCU 69, W. Kentucky 64

Published Nov. 20, 2011 2:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

Rob Brandenberg scored 18 points and Bradford Burgess hit two go-ahead foul shots with 1:07 to go as Virginia Commonwealth avoided an 0-3 trip to the Charleston Classic with a 69-64 victory over Western Kentucky on Sunday.

The Rams (2-2) opened the tournament with losses to Seton Hall and Saint Joseph's, but rallied from 12-points down in the second half to take seventh place. It didn't look that way when Nigel Snipes' 3-pointer gave Western Kentucky (1-4) a 56-44 lead with 8:04 to go.

But last year's Final Four participants rallied back with a 25-8 run to finish the game. Darius Theus had 12 points, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play in the surge.

T.J. Price led the Hilltoppers with 17 points in his first game back from NCAA suspension.