Anticipation was high to see how the Rams would
perform with a much different roster than last season
as the team returned to action for the first game that
counted since March.
The 236-day wait finally came to an end Friday night
when VCU defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 70-51,
in the Rams’ fifth consecutive win
in their home opener.
Sophomore Eric Maynor (Raeford,
N.C./Westover) gave the
Rams a 4-2 lead on a jumper less
than two minutes into the game,
and they never looked back from
there.
From that point, the Hawks were not able to tie or
take the lead. The Rams opened up a lead as large as
23 points with less than a minute remaining in the
second half.
Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie)
continued to impress after turning heads on defense in
both exhibition games. The freshman had a game-high
nine rebounds, blocked three shots and added nine
points in his debut performance.
Throughout the night, excessive fouls on both teams
prevented the Rams from getting in a rhythm with
their fast-paced style of play. The teams combined to
commit 45 personal fouls.
“Part of us developing our discipline is being able
to defend the way we want to defend without fouling,”
head coach Anthony Grant said. “I thought tonight
we had several fouls that were unnecessary.”
When the Rams were fouled and went to the line,
they were just 22-35 (62.9 percent).
“It’s a major concern – something we have to focus
on in practice because later on down the line, we’re
going to need it to close out games,” Jamal Shuler
(Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville) said. “It could cost
us a game, shooting like we did tonight.”
Shuler led the Rams in scoring with 15 points,
including three of the team’s four 3-point shots on the
night. The senior guard made his first start for Grant
after playing all 35 games last season off the bench.
The Hawks’ Ed Tyson led all scorers with 20 points
and played 39 minutes.
The 19-point victory came on the heels of a preseason
in which the Rams won both contests by an average of
21 points. VCU will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico,
for the ESPN Puerto Rico Tip Off, where the Rams
face Houston on Nov. 15. With a win, they will face
the winner of Miami vs. Marist on Nov. 16.
Inside the numbers
Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-1): Mirjacic 2, McFadden 12, Moore 6, Davis 2, Tyson 20, Bright 0, Akram 0, Jackson 3, Popovic 6, Nimocks 0, Krleski 0, Bivins 0. Totals: 19 10-19 51. 3-pointers: Tyson 2, McFadden.
VCU (1-0): Fameni 7, Anderson 7, Maynor 12, Shuler 15, Gwynn 6, Sanders 9, Pishchalnikov 0, Rodriguez 1, Ndongo 3, Kearse 7, Brown 1, Nixon 2. Totals: 22 22-35 70. 3-pointers: Shuler 3, Ndongo.