Rams bounce back

RICHMOND – After a disappointing loss to Hofstra last week, VCU has struck back. Jamal Shuler (Jacksonville, N.C./Westover) scored a career-high 25 points, and the Rams defeated Georgia State 100-71 during Homecoming Saturday.

The Rams got out to a fast start and quickly put the game out of reach. B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) scored the game’s first five points, then Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) connected with Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) for an alley-oop that forced the Panthers to call a timeout less than three minutes into the game.

“I’ve been telling Eric all week to throw the lob,” Anderson said about the dunk. “I’ve been running the wing kind of hard, and he finally paid attention to it today.”

The Score
VCU 100
GSU 71

Following the timeout, Georgia State converted a free throw to pull the score to 7-1. The six-point margin would be as close as they would get.

Thanks to 13 first-half points from Walker and Anderson – 10 from Shuler and 12 assists from Maynor – the Rams raced out to a 27-point halftime lead. Maynor’s first-half assist total equaled the number of turnovers VCU forced in the first half. He finished with 15 assists for the game, a career-high.

The second half belonged to Shuler. The junior scored 15 of his 25 in the second period.

“Coach is giving me the freedom to come over the bench and roam and attack,” Shuler said about his recent scoring surge.

Inside the numbers
Georgia State (4-9 CAA, 8-15): Perique 12, Dickerson 11, Mendez 8, Larris 8, Cartwright 2, Chase 7, Mitchell 6, Goldston 2, McBride 15. Totals: 27 12-18 71. 3-pointers: Larris 2, Perique, Mendez, McBride.

VCU (12-1, 20-4): Fameni 11, Anderson 15, Maynor 6, Walker 16, Pellot-Rosa 13, Eversley 0, Coward 0, Ndongo 6, Shuler 25, Roland 3, Gwynn 5. Totals: 34 21-24 100. 3-pointers: Shuler 6, Pellot-Rosa 2, Walker 2, Gwynn.

The Rams earned the biggest lead of the night with 2:56 remaining in the game when Wil Fameni’s jumper extended the lead to 32 at 95-63. VCU reached the 100-point mark for the first time this season with the victory.

The Rams are back in action Thursday night when George Mason comes to town.