Rams coast past Zips

Following its emotional one-point win on Saturday at the Robins Center, against the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University could have been ripe for a letdown on Wednesday night, when the Akron Zips came to the Siegel Center looking to avenge a loss to the Rams last season. Instead, before a crowd of 4,738, VCU threw […]

December 17, 2008; 11:00 PM • by FTRea

Following its emotional one-point win on Saturday at the Robins Center, against the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University could have been ripe for a letdown on Wednesday night, when the Akron Zips came to the Siegel Center looking to avenge a loss to the Rams last season.

Instead, before a crowd of 4,738, VCU threw a withering defense at their visitors in the first half, then coasted to a win that probably shouldn’t have been as close as it was: VCU 73, Akron 69.

Several times already this season in the media room, VCU head coach Anthony Grant has mentioned the team’s “identity” after games. Asked how close the Rams were to living up to that identity on defense in the first half, Grant said, “Close. The intensity in the first half was very good. The alertness … a huge part of that was rebounding.”

In the first half the Rams were crisp and purposeful with their cuts, the angles they took to harass the Zips. VCU’s senior point guard, Eric Maynor, went into the night ranked fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 23.8 points-per-game. But it was his three steals in the first half that set the pace for the Rams. When Maynor stepped up his defensive effort his teammates followed his lead.

Eventually, Maynor led all scorers with 30 points; his third 30-plus game already this season. Junior forward Kirill Pischalnikov pulled down 12 rebounds and added nine points.

Anthony Hitchens paced the Zips attack with 14 points and four assists.

The Rams stretched their lead to 17 points early in the second half, but the Zips wouldn’t quit. Owing to Maynor sinking a pair of free throws, VCU led by nine points with 1:07 left. But Akron (6-4) collapsed the margin to four points with 31 seconds on the clock. Then Grant’s smothering defense shut down the rally.

With obviously mixed feelings, Grant said, “We have to put two halves together.”

VCU (7-3) will be in Oklahoma City on Sat., Dec. 20, at 10 p.m., when the Rams meet the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (10-0), coached by Grant’s predecessor at VCU, Jeff Capel (ESPN2).

December 17, 2008 11:00 PM 0