MENS BASKETBALL: Rams edge Zips in BracketBuster

Larry Sanders (Fort Myers, Fla./Port St. Lucie) recorded a career-high nine
blocks to key VCU to a 57-52 win at Akron Saturday in the O’Reilly ESPNU
BracketBusters matchup. The loss was only the second of the season for the Zips
at Rhodes Arena.

“When I get in a rhythm, it gets easier,” said Sanders, who played 25 minutes.
“I try to time it right.”

The Rams’ relentless defense has become the staple of the team. Akron was
just 6 for 25 from behind the 3-point line and shot 28.3 percent from the field
throughout the game. The Zips, who average 72 points per game, were held to
their lowest point total of the season.

“We did a really good job in transition,” said VCU coach Anthony Grant. “We
felt like our frontcourt had to neutralize their frontcourt.”

The Rams jumped to an early 7-0 lead in the game’s first two minutes after
a layup from Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and back-to-back
jumpers from Jamal Shuler (Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville).

Akron answered with its own run to claim the lead. The Zips outscored the
Rams 21-7 during the next 12 minutes to reach their largest lead of the game.

Sanders helped the Rams counter by completing a 3-point play at the free-throw
line. The freshman tied the game at 23 with less than two minutes remaining in the
first half, but a Quade Milum free throw gave the Zips a 24-23 halftime lead.

VCU started the second half hot-much like it did the first. Three quick baskets
from Shuler and Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) forced the Zips to call a
time-out 1:53 into the second half.

“When it mattered, he (Maynor) took the game over,” said Akron coach Keith
Dambrot. “That’s why they win close games.”

Dambrot compared guarding Maynor to guarding LeBron James of the Cleveland
Cavaliers, who Dambrot coached in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s
in Akron.

With a 5-point lead and 1:35 remaining in the second half, Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell) rushed a 3-point attempt
and missed with plenty of time left on the shot
clock.

“That was a bad decision,” Grant said. “I don’t think
you want to know what I was thinking (after that).”

Grant did praise Rodriguez for his ability in moving
on to the next play and playing with “extreme
confidence.” Rodriguez sealed the game with two free
throws and eight seconds on the clock to give the
Rams a 54-49 lead.

Nick Dials, Cedric Middleton and Jeremiah Wood
did nearly all the heavy lifting on offense for the Zips,
combining for all 28 of the team’s second-half points
and 45 points for the game.

Wood, a front-runner for the Mid-America Conference
player of the year, recorded a double-double
with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The game was his
first since tearing the lateral meniscus in his right
knee Feb. 6.

The win is beneficial to VCU in the Rankings
Percentage Index, even though Akron’s RPI is 98th
in the nation. VCU moved up to 53rd. BracketBusters
primarily serve as RPI boosters since the games don’t
affect conference standings.

“It’s difficult to step outside the conference at this
point of the season,” Grant said.

Dambrot had a positive outlook about the matchup
despite his team’s loss.

“That (VCU) was a great draw for us … I’m excited
about going there next year,” Dambrot said. “We’re
striving to be more like them.”

The victory broke a four-game losing streak for the
Rams on ESPN2. VCU bounced back in BracketBusters
after losing at home to Bradley 73-67 last season and
is now 2-2 in the annual event. The team is 21-6 and
has won six of its last seven games. The Rams will
take on UNC Wilmington Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the
Stuart C. Siegel Center for senior night.

By the numbers

VCU (21-6): Maynor 14, Pishchalnikov 3,
Rodriguez 2, Anderson 7, Shuler 19, Sanders
3, Rozzell 3, Ndongo 0, Kearse 0, Gwynn 2,
Nixon 5. Totals: 21 11-17 57. 3-pointers: Shuler 2,
Anderson, Rozzell.

Akron (19-8): Middleton 17, Dials 14, McKnight
2, Linhart 2, Milum 1, McNees 0, Roberts 0,
Wood 14, Bardo 0. Totals: 17 12-17 52. 3-pointers:
Middleton 3, Dials 2, Wood.