Rams knock off Bulldogs in season opener

After a disappointing performance in their final exhibition game against Virginia State, the VCU Rams were looking for a good start to the regular season. Mission accomplished.

Junior T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) scored 20 points-14 in the first half-and the VCU defense forced 23 turnovers in an 82-59 victory over The Citadel on Sunday evening at the Siegel Center.

“Our guys came out and played to their ability,” said VCU coach Anthony Grant. “The focus and energy we played with for the majority of the game was very good.”

It appeared that The Citadel had the upper hand early in the game as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead within the first three minutes. However, the Rams turned up the heat on defense and converted turnovers into baskets and a 14-0 run that would give the home team a lead it would never lose.

“Their aggressiveness in the first half was exceptional. It rattled us early,” said Bulldogs coach Ed Conroy.

Gwynn scored six points during the run and the team forced seven turnovers-including three from Bulldogs point guard Cameron Wells.

Coming in to the game, Conroy’s team had a plan to stop Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) on the offensive end. The team succeeded in impeding his shooting, holding the senior to 12 points out 4-of-13 shooting, but the CAA preseason Player of the Year helped on in other areas. Maynor dished out seven assists – several of them to Gwynn – and also collected three rebounds.

“Maynor really impressed me with his ability to pass, much more so than I gave him credit for going in,” Conroy said. “I thought he had an even bigger impact on teammates scoring.”

Gwynn credited Maynor’s abilities and the team’s playbook for his success.

“It’s just knowing the plays,” he said. “The plays we have, anyone can be open. Eric was just able to find me open tonight.”

Gwynn finished the game with a 100 percent shooting percentage, 8 for 8.

“T.J. came in tonight and gave us a great spark . he did a great job of finishing,” Grant said.

VCU went into halftime with a 14-point lead, 42-28, that would get no smaller than 11 the rest of the way. The Rams coasted in the second half, but added to their lead at the end, finishing the final five minutes of play on an 18-7 run.

Sophomore Brandon Rozzell (Richmond/Highland Springs) scored 11 points in the victory while Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Howell) had 10 points and three assists and Bradford Burgess (Midlothian/Benedictine) had nine points and six rebounds. Austin Dahn led The Citadel with 13 points.

VCU hosts South Dakota State on Wednesday night in the second regional game of the Cancun Challenge.

By the numbers

The Citadel (1-1): Eykyn 4, Nelson 7, Brick 2, Wells 11, Dahn 13, McDowell 6, Morabbi 2, Urabanus 8, Streeter 2, Pandak 0, Holston 0, Roberts 4, Clark 0. Totals: 20 13-15 59. 3-pointers: Dahn 3, Wells, McDowell, Urbanus.

VCU (1-0): Sanders 0, Burgess 9, Maynor 12, Rozzell 7, Nixon 11, Saintil 5, Smith 0, Pishchalnikov 8, Rodriguez 10, Gwynn 20. Totals: 31 13-20 82. 3-pointers: Burgess 2, Rodriguez 2, Maynor, Rozzell, Nixon.

NOTES: VCU now has won three consecutive opening games . T.J. Gwynn led the Rams in scoring for the first time since a 22-point performance at William and Mary, Jan. 10, 2007 . Freshman Bradford Burgess made the first start of his career . Eric Maynor was not VCU’s leading scorer for the first time since last season’s regular-season finale against William and Mary.