VCU finds heart and determination in win over Drexel

Jim Swing
Assistant Sports Editor

Head coach Shaka Smart put a telling end to a vigorous night for VCU men’s basketball by making a pivotal statement.

Smart said that his team’s 52-48 conference win over Drexel was the best game that they had played since he’s been there regardless of what the stats sheet had to offer.

“Looking at the stats sheet we shot 29.5 percent, we got out-rebounded by 17, but we did a great job of controlling the thing we could control. Our guys showed an unbelievable level of resolve even when there was a lot of frustrating things going on,” Smart said. “In the past we’ve cracked in those moments and I think our guys, particularly our seniors, and it’s odd to say this about seniors, but I think they grew up tonight and they made some huge plays, none bigger than the three by Joey (Rodriguez) to take the lead.”

Both teams began the first half with an ample amount of energy on both ends of the floor that created a CAA Tournament type atmosphere.

VCU, a team that regularly shoots 44.5 percent from the floor, struggled to find its touch in the first half of play, shooting just 24.1 percent heading into the break trailing Drexel 25-21.

The Dragons would carry the momentum and the lead into the second half while applying constant pressure on the offensive end forcing the Rams to commit three defensive fouls in a span of 15 seconds while taking a commanding 38-30 lead.

That’s when the tides would turn. VCU forced seven turnovers in a matter of five minutes followed by a Brandon Rozzell 3-pointer that gave the Rams a 39-38 lead and brought the 6,313 in attendance to their feet.

A push from the crowd ignited a fire on the defensive end for VCU that it had lacked all game as Bradford Burgess made a steal that led to a fade-away jumper for Jamie Skeen to give the Rams a three point lead.

Drexel would regain the lead on a 3-pointer by leading scorer Chris Fouch followed by a pair of free-throws by Samme Givens to give the Dragons a 44-41 lead with 3:30 remaining in the game.

Rozzell proved the importance of his “sixth-man” role once again as he drove the lane and created a three-point play to tie the game with just over a minute to play.

After a couple of free-throws from Fouch to give Drexel a two point lead, perhaps the most important play of the game came into action.

In order to avoid traffic in the lane, Rozzell kicked the ball out to a wide-open Rodriguez who nailed the 3-pointer that allowed VCU to take the lead for good, going ahead 47-46 with 51 seconds left.

“It felt really good especially because I didn’t make any shots this past seven games,” Rodriguez said. “Making a shot like that kind of gives you your confidence back.”

A missed jumper by Fouch rebounded by Skeen aided by what Smart said was the best block-out he has ever seen by Burgess sent Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint into a fit of rage.

Flint was outraged by no whistle underneath the basket that followed a string of non-calls in the second half, which led to a double technical and his ejection from the game.

“The last few minutes of the game I thought we got fouled every time we got trapped or we went to the basket.” Flint said. “That’s one reason I exploded, the last three minutes of the game they didn’t call not one foul on them.”

Four free-throws from Rodriguez and one from Skeen gave VCU its 18th straight victory at the Siegel Center which ranks seventh in the nation amongst active home winning streaks.

After the game seniors Rodriguez and Skeen gave a lot of credit to the Ram faithful.

“Our fans are great, they stick with us no matter what is going on,” Rodriguez said. “They were great tonight, they wanted a run and they stayed behind us and once we started going on that run it got everyone emotional and we won so it was good.”

Said Skeen: “When we hit big shots like that and the crowd gets on our side and the crowds getting really loud, Drexel couldn’t even really get their offensive plays in, they didn’t even know when the shot clock was going down it was so loud in there.”