Rams defeat Blue Hens

Saturday afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Delawar, junior Eric Maynor and senior Jamal Shuler scored 21 points each and keyed a crippling second-half run as Virginia Commonwealth University pulled away from Delaware: VCU 83, Delaware 73. Maynor also handed out 10 assists and did not commit a turnover for the Rams, who made […]

February 9, 2008; 9:35 PM • by FTRea

Saturday afternoon at the Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Delawar, junior Eric Maynor and senior Jamal Shuler scored 21 points each and keyed a crippling second-half run as Virginia Commonwealth University pulled away from Delaware: VCU 83, Delaware 73.

Maynor also handed out 10 assists and did not commit a turnover for the Rams, who made just six miscues on the day.

VCU trailed, 58-52, with 14:14 remaining, but with Maynor and Shuler lead the Rams to 16 unanswered points to take a 68-58 lead. The run eventually reached 24-2, which gave VCU its largest margin of the night, 76-60 with 6:45 left.

Shuler sparked the run with consecutive 3-pointers to knot the score at 58-58. He added a layup moments later, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by freshman Lance Kearse and Maynor to push the VCU lead to 10. After a Maynor layin, Shuler scored six straight points to cap the blitz.

The Blue Hens (10-13, 7-6 CAA) would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

VCU’s eruption blew open what had been a tight game. The first half featured nine lead changes and four ties.

The Rams forced 19 turnovers in the game, offsetting a 43-26 Delaware advantage on the glass. VCU scored 27 points off turnovers, compared to two for UD.

Freshman Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell) ripped seven steals to tie the school record for the second time in three games. Rodriguez added eight points and four assists. Kearse and senior Michael Anderson kicked in nine points each.

Alphonso Dawson led the Blue Hens with a career-high 25 points, while Herb Courtney added 21.

VCU (18-5, 11-2 CAA) returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 13 when it meets James Madison at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center.

NOTES: Freshman Larry Sanders blocked three shots in the game, passing Kendrick Warren for fifth on the Rams’ single-season list with 66… Maynor recorded his 400th career assist and moved past Calvin Duncan on VCU’s career list with 409… Maynor also moved into 26th on the school’s all time scoring list. Maynor has 1,027 career points.

– The information above was furnished by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

CAA Standings
VCU (18-5, 11-2 in CAA)
Mason (17-7, 9-4 in CAA)
W&M (13-10, 9-4 in CAA)
UNC-W (15-10, 8-5 in CAA)
ODU (12-13, 7-6 in CAA)
N’eastern (11-12, 7-6 in CAA)
Delaware (10-13, 7-6 in CAA)
Towson (9-14, 5-8 in CAA)
Hofstra (8-15, 8-15 in CAA)
JMU (11-12, 4-9 in CAA)
Drexel (10-15, 3-10 in CAA)
Georgia St. (6-17, 3-10 in CAA)

February 9, 2008 9:35 PM 0