NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) It was a game with a feeling of March Madness in the air, even though it was just the first of December.

Virginia Commonwealth, led by Juvonte Reddic's 18 points and 11 rebounds, ended Belmont's nation-leading 23-game home win streak 81-68 on Sunday. The two successful mid-major programs have each made six NCAA Tournament appearances in the past decade.

"Their crowd was into it, our crowd was into it," VCU senior Melvin Johnson said. "That's a great team, they've got some great players. We just had to respond to adversity, and that's what we're going to face all year on the road."