Rams slip at ODU, split season series

With a chance once again to move into sole possession of first place in the CAA, the Rams lost to Old Dominion 69-65 on Saturday in Norfolk.

Northeastern lost at George Mason but holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over VCU with three conference games remaining.

“At halftime, we had the delay with the lights going out, so word did get around (that Northeastern had lost),” Grant said.

Time was added to the standard 15-minute halftime because the lights in the Ted Constant Convocation Center lost power.

Grant said his team will be OK if it maintains its identity and plays its game-something the Rams got away from against the Monarchs.

“We knew that we would have to compete and do a good job on the backboard,” Grant said. “Unfortunately, tonight we weren’t able to do that.”

Another problem that has plagued VCU this season is foul trouble for their big men. Kirill Pishchalnikov (Maykop, Russia/MGGTK AGU) picked up three first-half fouls and played 11 total minutes in the game before fouling out. He finished without attempting a field goal or pulling in a rebound.

“We knew going into the game that Old Dominion was a very physical team, so we just tried to be physical back,” Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie) said.
Old Dominion held a 35-28 halftime lead and separated itself on the scoreboard with eight second-chance points in the first half. VCU had none. The Monarchs pulled down nine offensive rebounds, and the Rams didn’t grab one.

“Our first-shot defense was very good. Our second-shot defense cost us the game,” Grant said.

VCU also had problems penetrating Old Dominion’s zone defense.

“The zone bothered us. They’ve got great size and great length. They do a good job. They’re very active in it,” Grant said.

The Rams were unable to get in rhythm becaus of the Monarchs’ stingy defense.

“In the first half we were taking too many 3’s, I don’t think we ever got going,” said Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover), who led VCU in scoring for the 19th time this season. “They forced us to take bad shots.”

The Rams opened the second half scoring 14 straight points. Bradford Burgess (Midlothian/Benedictine) buried a 3-pointer to open the run. Maynor hit a jumper, Burgess added a layup to tie the score and a dunk from Sanders gave VCU the lead less than three minutes into the half.

From there, Old Dominion answered with a run powered by Gerald Lee. Lee led the Monarchs with 18 points-13 of which came in the second half.

“We squandered some opportunities there,” Grant said. “At the end of the day, it’s not one or two plays. It’s the cumulative effect of what it takes to win games like these.”

VCU hosts the Delaware Blue Hens, who beat the Rams Jan. 2, Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Siegel Center.

BY THE NUMBERS

VCU (11-4 CAA, 18-8)

Sanders 10, Pishchalnikov 0, Maynor 22, Rodriguez 6, Burgess 16, Saintil 2, Rozzell 2, Gwynn 7, Nixon 0. 24 10-13 65. 3-pointers: Maynor, Rodriguez 2, Burgess 4.

Old Dominion (9-6 CAA, 16-9)

Lee 18, Hassell 10, Finney 16, James 4, Neely 3, Iliadis 0, Cooper 2, DeLancey 0, Bazemore 5, Carter 4, Adams 7. 25 16-24 69. 3-pointers: Finney 2, Bazemore.