CAA TOURNAMENT RECAP

The CAA tournament wrapped up over spring break. If you did not have a chance to catch the tournament, do not worry. The CT has you covered. Here is a recap of all the games.

FRIDAY’S GAMES – FIRST ROUND

No. 8 Georgia State 54,

No. 9 Delaware 41

Georgia State used defense to hold Delaware to 28 percent shooting from the field, including 2 for 21 from 3-point
range. The Panthers used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to open a 13 point lead. The Panthers also held the Blue Hens to just two field goals in the last 9:17 of the game. The Panthers’ Joe Dukes had 15 points and five assists as Georgia State advanced to play No. 1 VCU.

No. 5 Hofstra 79,

No. 12 UNC Wilmington 66

UNC Wilmington could not contain Hofstra’s Charles Jenkins. Jenkins scored 27 points and had nine assists. The Pride shot almost 53 percent from the field and outrebounded the Seahawks by 13. The game got as close a six in the second half but the Pride would use a 21-10 run to put away the Seahawks. Jenkins scored 10 points in the run. The Pride advanced to play No. 4 Old Dominion.

No. 7 James Madison 70,

No. 10 William and Mary 48

James Madison’s Pierre Curtis scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in the blowout against William and Mary. The Dukes shot nearly 54 percent from the field. James Madison used a 10-3 run at the end of the first half to take a seven point lead into halftime. The Tribe closed the gap to five points in the second half but the Dukes would go on a 17-2 run to end the Tribe’s hopes. The Dukes advanced to play No. 2 George Mason.

No. 11 Towson 73, No. 6 Drexel 62

After giving up nearly 72 points a game in the regular season, Towson’s defense showed up to shut down Drexel. Towson held Drexel to only four field goals and 14 points in the first half and started the game with a 15-0 run. The Tigers led the Dragons by 25 at the half. In the second half, Drexel would cut the lead to eight points but the Dragons would get no closer. Towson’s Junior Hairston scored 24 points in the victory as the Dragons advanced to play No. 2 Northeastern.

SATURDAY’S GAMES – QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 VCU 61, No. 8 Georgia State 51

After a sluggish first half, VCU used hot shooting in the second half to defeat Georgia State for the third time this season. The Rams held the Panthers to just 15 points in the first half. The Rams shot 13 for 21, including 8 for 9 from 3-point range, from the field in the second half. Senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C./Westover) scored 18 points and dished four assists in the game. Freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian/Benedictine) scored 12 points while sophomore Brandon Rozzell (Richmond/Highland Springs) added 11 points. The Rams advanced to play the winner of Old Dominion/Hofstra.

No. 4 Old Dominion 52, No. 5 Hofstra 51

Hofstra’s Charles Jenkins scored 27 points and had six assists but it was not enough because Old Dominion’s Gerald Lee scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The game was close the whole way. With less than five seconds remaining in the game, Hofstra had a chance to win the game but Jenkins’ shot was blocked to preserve the Monarchs win. Old Dominion advanced to play No. 1 VCU in the semifinals.

No. 2 George Mason 61, No. 7 James Madison 53

George Mason’s Cam Long and Darryl Monroe scored 12 points to help the Patriots defeat the Dukes. The Patriots held the Dukes to 27 percent shooting from the field. George Mason only led by one point at the half but would outscore James Madison by nine in the second half secure the win. The Patriots advanced to play the winner of the Northeastern/Towson.

No. 11 Towson 58, No. 3 Northeastern 54

Towson’s Junior Hairston scored 14 points while Tony Franklin added 13 points as the Tigers got their second upset in as many days. Towson held Northeastern’s Matt Janning to eight points and two assists. The Tigers advanced to play No 2 George Mason in the semifinals.

SUNDAY’S GAMES – SEMIFINALS

No. 1 VCU 61, No. 4 Old Dominion 53

Maynor scored 23 points while sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla./Port St. Lucie) tallied a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds to advance to the finals. Old Dominion led the game at halftime but VCU used defense to win the game. The Rams held the Monarchs to six field goals in the second half and used a 13-2 run to put the game out of reach. The Rams advanced to the finals to play the winner of George Mason/Towson.

No. 2 George Mason 56, No. 11 Towson 48

George Mason’s trio of Monroe, Long and Dre Smith was too much for Towson. Monroe scored 15 points, Long scored 14 points while Smith added 13 points. The Patriots’ win was their third of the season over Towson. Towson’s Junior Hairston was instrumental in upset victories over Drexel and Northeastern, but only scored four points in the game. George Mason advanced to play No. 1 VCU in the finals.

MONDAY’S GAME – FINALS

No. 1 VCU 71,

No. 2 George Mason 50

The combination of Maynor and Sanders was too much for George Mason to handle. Maynor scored 25 points and had eight assists. Sanders scored 18 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked seven shots. VCU dominated both sides of the ball during the game. In the first half, the Rams shot 52 percent and held the Patriots to 30 percent from the field.

At halftime, Maynor and Sanders outscored the Patriots, 20-19. At the half, George Mason had barely outrebounded Sanders, 14-12. George Mason’s best players, Monroe, Smith, Long and John Vaughan combined for seven points at halftime. Monroe and Vaughan did not score and Monroe did not even have a rebound. The second half went just like the first. The Rams dominated all facets of the game.

Sanders dominated down low and Maynor took care of the perimeter. Smith did heat up for George Mason but he could not bring the Patriots any closer than 12 points. Smith ended the game with 23 points. Monroe, Long and Vaughan combined for 12 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists. With the win, the Rams get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.