Rams vs. Rams VCU halted at Rhode Island

Both VCU and Rhode Island are coming off an NIT appearance last season. Both have a recent down-to-the-wire game against Duke. They even share the Ram as a mascot. Saturday night, the programs vied for some separation at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

VCU shot 60.7 percent from the floor but lost, 92-86.

Rhode Island forced VCU into committing 26 turnovers-four more than team committed in its first two games combined. Ten of VCU’s turnovers at Rhode Island were committed by Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover).

“Tonight, we were done in by things we hang our hat on . rebounding and valuing the basketball,” said VCU coach Anthony Grant.

VCU’s post presence was hampered when Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie) picked up two quick fouls less than two minutes into the game. Sanders sat the remainder of the half on the bench, partly in favor of Kirill Pishchalnikov (Maykop, Russia/MGGTK AGU), who also was in foul trouble before the end of the first half with three personals.

Rhode Island took advantage with 11 offensive rebounds and 30 points in the paint in the half. Despite committing twice as many first half turnovers and fouls as Rhode Island, VCU pulled even 43-43 at halftime.

Neither team was able to establish the upper hand to open the second half. But with 13:55 left to play, Delroy James converted a layup that was the beginning of an 11-2 run that opened up Rhode Island’s lead to 10, it’s largest of the game, with 11:37 remaining.

Maynor, after being held to three points in the first half, stepped up for VCU and scored ten of the team’s next 18 points to stake the visiting Rams to a 69-66 lead with 7:32 left on the clock. Brandon Rozzell (Richmond/Highland Springs) hit a jumper to bring VCU’s lead up to four before Jimmy Baron cut it to one with a 3-pointer.

VCU held the lead at 2:21 before Rhode Island closed the game on an 11-4 run.

“You have to find ways to produce points, and the free throw line was very important to us,” said Rhode Island coach Jim Baron. “We wanted to play to win the game. We didn’t want to play not to lose.”

With a game at East Carolina coming up on Tuesday, Grant tried to keep the loss in perspective.

“This is nothing more than a young team that needs to figure things out,” Grant said. “Ultimately their depth was too great for us.”

By the numbers

VCU (2-1): Sanders 6, Maynor 22, Rozzell 9, Burgess 11, Nixon 6, Saintil 4, Smith 0, Pishchalnikov 4, Rodriguez 14, Gwynn 10. Totals: 34 11-19 86. 3-pointers: Rodriguez 4, Maynor 2, Rozzell.

Rhode Island (3-1): Jones 10, Baron 17, James 14, Cothran 23, Seawright 17, Mejia 2, Eaves 0, Ulmer 7, Martell 2. Totals: 33 22-35 92. 3-pointers: Jones 2, Baron 2.

NOTES: The 92 points were the most allowed by VCU to an opponent since a 92-81 loss at William and Mary on Jan. 12, 2002 . Lance Kearse (Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Myers) again was in uniform and did not play . Each Rhode Island starter scored in double figures . Rhode Island now leads the all-time series 2-1.