Wednesday, December 05, 2007

VCU too much for W&M

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Before a Siegel Center crowd of 5,240, VCU opened its Colonial Athletic Association schedule by thumping William & Mary: VCU 71, W&M 57.

With tonight’s game sandwiched between a victory over Maryland this past Sunday and a match-up with Richmond on Saturday, there could have been a letdown for VCU. But there wasn't. While Wm. & Mary turned in a good effort, the Tribe was just out-manned. VCU improved its record to 5-3. Wm. & Mary fell to 1-5.

Once again it was the Rams one-two punch of starting guards Eric Maynor and Jamal Shuler that did the most damage. Maynor scored 15 points and dished out nine assists. Shuler scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Wm. & Mary’s head coach, Tony Shaver, summed it up succinctly afterwards: “Maynor and Shuler are outstanding players.”

Recently the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Highland Springs product Brandon Rozzell, a freshman guard, would be redshirted this season. But that changed tonight, as VCU head coach Anthony Grant decided to “un-redshirt” Rozzell and used him for six minutes in two stints. Rozzell didn't score but he did get a nice assist on a fast break off of a turnover.

VCU freshman forward Larry Sanders pulled down seven rebounds and blocked four shots in 16 minutes of playing time.

The Rams next game will bring cross-town rival Richmond (4-5) to the Siegel Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your ticket.

-- words and photo by F.T. Rea

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