Loss drops Rams to second in conference

In a battle between first-place teams in the CAA, the Rams lost 68-63 to the Northeastern Huskies Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.

Both teams came into the game 8-1 in the conference, but the loss gives sole possession of first place in the CAA to the Huskies.

With the loss, VCU falls to 8-2 in the conference and 15-6 overall.

“Give Northeastern credit. They’re a very good team,” VCU head coach Anthony Grant said.

The Rams started the game too aggressively as they were called for five fouls in about the first four minutes of the game.

“Our emotions got the best of us,” Grant said.
With about 14 minutes to go in the first half, sophomore Brandon Rozzell (Richmond/Highland Springs) stole the ball from the Huskies but missed the layup on the other end. Senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) was there for the tip in to grab an early 9-8 lead.

Northeastern would then go on a 12-0 run to give the Huskies a 20-8 lead that was extended to as much as 30-13.

VCU then closed out the half on a 17-4 run powered by Rozzell’s hot shooting and a one-handed reverse dunk by sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie). Rozzell and Sanders scored 16 and eight, respectively.
The Rams finished the half down, 34-30.

The Huskies opened the second half on a 12-3 run to widen their lead to 13 points. The run included three three-point baskets. The Huskies shot 60 percent from 3-point range in the game.

“We made some threes. We shot a great percentage,” Northeastern coach Bill Coen said.

The Rams turned up the defense to get back into the game. The Rams used full-court pressure to force the Huskies into turnovers which allowed VCU to cut the lead to six with a little more than two minutes left.

With 2:13 left in the game, Sanders intercepted a pass and threw an outlet pass to Maynor. Maynor drove to the lane and was fouled by Northeastern’s Matt Janning but was still able to make the layup. After the play was over, pushing and shoving occurred after it appeared the Huskies didn’t like Maynor’s celebration.

As a result, VCU freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian/Benedictine) and the Huskies’ Manny Adako were assessed technical fouls.

Maynor then hit the free throw to cut Northeastern’s lead to 58-55.

On the Rams’ next possession, Maynor made a layup to cut the Huskies lead to two points, but that was as close as VCU could get.

Maynor missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game with 15 seconds left. He finished with a game-high 30 points.

After that play, the Huskies knocked down four free throws in the final seconds to give them the win.

The Rams and Huskies do not meet again this regular season. The Huskies’ win essentially gives them a two-game lead over the Rams in the CAA since the Huskies own the tie breaker.

“They’re a good team and we feel like we will see them again,” Maynor said.

VCU will look to bounce back Saturday at Hofstra.

By the numbers

Northeastern (14-6, 9-1 CAA): Spates 12, Adako 12, Ojougboh 6, Allen 9, Janning 11, Alvarez 4, Smith 8, Bataille 6

Totals: 28 21-28 68. 3-pointers: Spates 4, Janning 2, Smith 2, Allen 1.

VCU (15-6, 8-2 CAA): Sanders 8, Pishchalnikov 2, Maynor 30, Rodriguez 2, Burgess, 3, Saintil 0, Rozzell 16, Nixon 2
Totals: 29 11-13 63. 3-pointers: Rozzell 4, Maynor 2.