Rams are CAA regular season champions

Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) showed what makes him a leader on this year’s Rams team.

With four seconds to play and VCU leading 68-67, Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) was fouled and went to the free-throw line for two shots. He hit the first, but when the second fell off of the rim, Pellot-Rosa put it back up, was fouled, and hit the free throw to give the Rams a 72-67 lead. Georgia State hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the final score 72-70, and put the wraps on VCU’s school record 16th conference victory, and second CAA regular season title.

The Score
VCU 72
GSU 70

The performance is exactly what has been expected from Pellot-Rosa, the player labeled by coach Anthony Grant as the senior leader following Jan. 17’s victory over UNC Wilmington.

Point guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) went for another double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Wil Fameni (Douala, Cameroon/Amelia Academy) also scored 16 points while Pellot-Rosa chipped in 15.

Inside the numbers

VCU (16-2 CAA, 24-6): Fameni 16, Anderson 9, Maynor 16, Walker 6, Pellot-Rosa 15, Coward 3, Shuler 6, Roland 1, Gwynn. Totals: 24 18-29 72. 3-pointers: Pellot-Rosa 3, Shuler 2, Walker.

Georgia State (5-13, 10-19): Perique 13, Cartwright 6, Dickerson 14, Mendez 28, Larris 7, Chase 2, Mitchell 0, Goldston 0, McBride 0, Billingslea 0. Totals: 25 14-23 70. 3-pointers: Mendez 5, Larris.

The Rams fell behind 28-24 at halftime after shooting a disappointing 36 percent from the field. However, VCU turned 17 Georgia State turnovers into 21 points to help make up the difference. The win put an end to a season of surpassed expectations for VCU. The Rams were picked to finish sixth in the conference in the preseason poll.

VCU will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s CAA tournament, hosted at the Richmond Coliseum, where they will receive a first-round bye. They will play Saturday, March 3, at noon against the winner of the Georgia State-William & Mary game.