Rams defeat Tribe

Senior Michael Anderson tied a career-high with 18 points, while freshman Brandon Rozzell triggered a key second-half run in Virginia Commonwealth University ’s 54-43 win over William & Mary Saturday at Kaplan Arena. The victory caps a 23-win regular season for the Rams, improving them to 23-6 overall, as well as 15-3 in the Colonial Athletic […]

March 1, 2008; 10:35 PM • by FTRea

Senior Michael Anderson tied a career-high with 18 points, while freshman Brandon Rozzell triggered a key second-half run in Virginia Commonwealth University ’s 54-43 win over William & Mary Saturday at Kaplan Arena.

The victory caps a 23-win regular season for the Rams, improving them to 23-6 overall, as well as 15-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association. VCU has secured the CAA’s top seed in the upcoming conference tournament and will meet the winner of Friday’s Towson/Hofstra contest on Saturday, March 8 at 12 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum.

The Tribe are 14-15 overall, as well as 10-8 in league play. William & Mary will serve as the No. 5 seed in the CAA Tournament.

VCU led by as much as 14 in the first half, but saw the Tribe move to within 32-30 on Peter Stein’s layup with 13:01 remaining.

But Rozzell scored all eight of his points during a 17-4 burst over the next seven minutes that put the Rams in the driver’s seat.

Maynor ignited the run with a bank shot, then found Rozzell in the corner for a 3-pointer that pushed the margin to 37-30. Rozzell picked up a steal above the Tribe’s 3-point line on the ensuing possession and raced to the basket to convert. Rozzell and senior Jamal Shuler later sandwiched 3-pointers around a pair of Tribe baskets for a 45-34 lead.

Maynor finished with 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Shuler added eight points.

Anderson sparked VCU in the first, scoring 13 of his 18 as the Rams took a 25-16 halftime lead. The 6-7 senior opened the game with a 3-pointer from up top. He added a second trey with 7:21 left in the half as the Rams led, 14-4.

On the defensive end, the Black and Gold limited William & Mary to just 21-percent (4-of-19) shooting in the opening half, and held the Tribe scoreless for a nine-minute stretch. William & Mary, the league’s most prolific 3-point shooting team, was 4-of-25 on the night.

Saturday marked the seventh time this season VCU has held an opponent below 50 points.

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

March 1, 2008 10:35 PM 0