The Houston Cougars came to the Siegel Center on W. Broad St. to play a basketball game. With them they brought their snazzy 93.2 points-per-game average, to face the VCU Rams. As Anthony Grant, VCU’s first-year head coach, has installed a new overplaying, trapping defense this year, this tilt matched styles that could produce a high-scoring affair. It did.
The pressing Rams harassed the Cougars into 17 turnovers in the first half, which ended with VCU holding a 22-point lead. At times it looked more like a track meet than a game of hoops. In the second half the Rams used their working margin to keep the Cougars in the rear view mirror: VCU 102, Houston 84.
The Rams scoring attack was paced by its three starting guards, who shot 10-for-18 from beyond the three-point line: Eric Maynor scored 28 points; B.A. Walker scored 26 points; Jesse Pellot-Rosa scored 20 points. Point guard Maynor also set a new personal career high for assists with 11.
Pleased with his team’s effort on defense, to impose its will on the opponent, Grant said, “Our guys set the tone early. Praising his bench, Grant added, “Our strength is in our numbers.”
Houston’s coach, Tom Penders, is in his 33rd season as a collegiate head coach. Of VCU’s guards Penders said, “That’s one of the best backcourts I’ve seen in a while. VCU played a great game. Not a good game ... a great game!”
Since 1985, in various formats, SLANT -- an independent voice based in Richmond's Fan District -- has offered its readers original commentary on politics and popular culture, including cartoons and selected sundries. Warning: Sometimes that means satirical content. All rights are reserved.
1 comment:
I have to say that I thought you were talking high school basketball for a second. I graduated from Centreville High School in 2002 and two of our rivals, especially in football and marching band, were the Oakton Cougars and the Robinson Rams.
PS,
Yes, I said marching band. I play the saxophone and we were bitter rivals with Oakton and Robinson back in the day.
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