PELLOT-ROSA SCORES CAREER-HIGH 24 AS VCU TOPS UNCW 74-65
VCU remains in sole possession of first place in CAA
1-17-07
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RICHMOND, Va. – Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) led Virginia Commonwealth University with a career-high 24 points as the Rams overcame a second-half UNC Wilmington rally to defeat the Seahawks,74-65, in Colonial Athletic Association action Wednesday night at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.  With the win, VCU remains in sole possession of first place in the CAA standings at 7-0.

After a pair of free throws by UNC Wilmington freshman guard Darryl Felder (Powder Springs, Ga./Diamond Bar) cut the Rams’ lead to one at 7-6 with 16:22 remaining in the first half, VCU went on a 14-7 run to claim a 21-13 lead as Pellot-Rosa hit two of his three first half three pointers over the six-minute spurt.  The Rams would extend their lead to 10 points at 31-21, the largest of the first half, on Pellot-Rosa’s third trey of the period with 4:47 to go before the break.  The Seahawks would score five of the final seven points in the first half to pull within seven as VCU took a 33-26 lead into the locker room.

VCU, who recorded a season-low six turnovers, and UNCW traded field goals through the first 2:30 of the second half but the Seahawks would go on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to take their first lead of the game at 43-42 on a jumper by junior forward Jeff Horowitz (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) at the 13:09 mark.  The Rams regained the lead at 44-43 following two free throws by junior guard Jamal Shuler (Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville) on the next possession.  A layup by senior guard Temi Soyebo (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) gave UNCW the lead again, 45-44, with 12:04 remaining.  A three-pointer by Shuler with 9:25 to go tied the score at 49-49 and a trey by Pellot-Rosa with 8:53 remaining again knotted the score at 52-52.  The Seahawks would answer with a 5-0 run to claim a five-point lead at 57-52 with 6:04 left before VCU closed the game on a 22-8 run to claim the nine-point victory.

Senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) added 20 points for VCU, while sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) chipped in 13 points and a game-high five assists.

Soyebo led UNCW with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting and six rebounds.  Junior guard Daniel Fountain (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) and junior forward Todd Hendley (Sanford, N.C./Sanford) added 13 points for the Seahawks.

VCU, under the direction of first-year head coach Anthony Grant, returns to CAA action on Saturday, Jan. 20, with a 5:30 p.m. contest against Old Dominion at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.