Rams finish well

Surrounded by Panthers Eric Maynor releases an acrobatic floater that will fall and break Kendrick Warren’s all-time scoring record of 1,858 points for VCU. With 11:21 showing on the clock in the first half, after misfiring on three attempts Eric Maynor’s fourth shot of the game dropped through the rim. It was one of Maynor’s driving-in-the-lane, […]

February 28, 2009; 7:44 PM • by FTRea

Surrounded by Panthers Eric Maynor releases an acrobatic floater that will fall and break Kendrick Warren’s all-time scoring record of 1,858 points for VCU.

With 11:21 showing on the clock in the first half, after misfiring on three attempts Eric Maynor’s fourth shot of the game dropped through the rim. It was one of Maynor’s driving-in-the-lane, high-arcing floaters. It tied the score at 11 apiece in the last regular season game for both teams, visiting Georgia St. and VCU. Before a Siegel Center crowd of 7,355 that bucket set a new record for career scoring for the 40-year-old VCU men’s basketball program.

“We slowed [Maynor] down, scoring, but he still controlled the ball game,” said Panthers head coach Rod Barnes.

Barnes was gracious in giving the Rams credit for clobbering his Panthers: VCU 69, Georgia St. 41.

“Our defensive intensity was as good as it’s been this year,” said Rams head coach Anthony Grant.

It was senior night for the only senior on this year’s Rams squad. Before the game in an unprecedented, surprise move, Maynor’s No. 3 uniform shirt was unfurled to hang from the rafters, along side Gerald Henderson’s, Calvin Duncan’s and Kendrick Warren’s, over the basketball floor. No active player has been so honored before at VCU.

In 27 minutes of play point guard Maynor, last season’s conference Player of the Year, cruised to score nine points, he grabbed four rebounds and dished out nine assists.

“It was a little emotional at the beginning,” Maynor said. “But just coming in here, I already knew how it was going to be. The main thing coming in here was leave on a good note, and that was to win at the Siegel Center in my last game.”

Rashad Chase paced the Panthers effort with 10 points and eight rebounds.

VCU sophomore forward/center Larry Sanders led all scorers with 14 points. The much-improved Sanders added six boards, three blocks and three assists.

The Rams forced the Panthers into 21 turnovers, while Georgia St. could manage only four assists. The Panthers shot just 33 percent from the field. Yes, VCU’s defense was intense … and it was relentless.

With the victory VCU (21-9, 14-4 in CAA) clinched the first seed position in the CAA tournament, which will begin Friday at the Richmond Coliseum. The Rams finished the regular season with a 13-1 mark on its home court.

Asked how it feels to have won his third straight CAA regular season title, Grant gave the credit to his players and said, “I’m the luckiest guy in the country.”

Yes, it is.

Tickets to the CAA tournament are $21 per session and $70 for a tournament book that includes all 11 games. For tickets click here, or call 1-800-745-3000.

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CAA Final 2008-09 Standings

VCU 14-4 in CAA (21-9 overall)

GMU 13-5 in CAA (20-9 overall)

Northeastern 12-6 in CAA (18-11 overall)

ODU 12-6 in CAA (20-9 overall)

Hofstra 11-7 in CAA (20-10 overall)

Drexel 10-8 in CAA (15-13 overall)

JMU 9-9 in CAA (18-13 overall)

Georgia St. 8-10 in CAA (11-19 overall)

Delaware 6-12 in CAA (13-18 overall)

Wm & Mary 5-13 in CAA (10-19 overall)

Towson 5-13 in CAA (10-21 overall)

UNCW 3-15 in CAA (7-24 overall)

 

February 28, 2009 7:44 PM 0