VCU 62, Wichita State 59: Bradford Burgess scored 16 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:30 left to send VCU back to the round of 32.

The 12th-seeded Rams (29-6), who as an No. 11 seed made an improbable run to the final four a season ago, took the first step toward a return trip by holding the high-powered Shockers to more than 18 points below their season scoring average.

No. 5 seed Wichita State, making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2006, finished 27-6.

The teams traded 3-pointers on four consecutive possessions with less than three minutes to play, the last of which coming from Burgess on his first points of the second half to put VCU up 60-59 with 1:30 left.

With the game clock at 18 seconds and the shot clock at three, Darius Theus (10 points) got a friendly bounce on a runner in the lane that made it 62-59. Wichita State’s last possession came down to a desperation 3-pointer by 7-foot center Garrett Stutz that was long.

VCU, which won its seventh consecutive game, built a lead as large as 13 points in the second half before the Shockers scored 26 of the next 37 points to grab their first lead of the second half at 59-57 on Toure Murry’s 3-pointer in the corner.

Joe Ragland led Wichita State with 15 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wichita State was held to its lowest first-half point total of the season and trailed 34-25 at the break. … VCU will make its third trip in the last six years and seventh overall to the round of 32.