MAYNOR LEADS ALL SCORERS WITH 27 AS VCU FALLS TO ASU 73-70
12-30-06
boxscore

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University had four players in double figures, led by sophomore guard Eric Maynor’s (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) game-high 27 points, but Appalachian State University overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat VCU, 73-70, Saturday night at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU (9-3) and Appalachian State (11-3) traded field goals to start the game as the Rams opened with an early 8-6 advantage, but the Mountaineers would use an 11-5 run over the next five minutes to take a four-point lead at 17-13.  The Rams would answer with a 19-8 run of their own to build the largest lead of the first half, seven points, at 32-25 with 1:32 remaining.  Appalachian State scored the final four points of the period as VCU took a 32-29 advantage into the locker room.  Maynor and freshman forward T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) led VCU with eight first-half points.

VCU came out of the locker room on a 22-8 run, extending the Rams’ lead to 17 points at 54-37 with 14:24 left in the contest.  Maynor scored 16 straight points for the Rams, netting the final six of the first half and the first 10 of the second half. ASU would hold VCU without a field goal over the next eight minutes as the Mountaineers scored 16 unanswered points to pull within one at 54-53 with nine minutes remaining.  ASU tied the game on a free throw by forward Donte Minter (Salisbury, N.C./Virginia) at 55-55 with 8:01 to go and took their first lead, since the 6:34 mark in the first half, on another free throw by Minter with 2:18 remaining.  Maynor missed a game-tying three-pointer as time expired, securing the Mountaineers’ win.

Senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) added 13 points for VCU, while senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) and Gwynn chipped in 11 points.

Appalachian State, who shot 52.8% from the field, were led by Minter’s 25 points and 10 rebounds.  Junior forward Jeremy Clayton (Greensboro, N.C./Ben L. Smith) added 13 points and 10 boards for the Mountaineers.

VCU, under the direction of first-year head coach Anthony Grant, return to CAA action on Wednesday, Jan. 3, with a 7 p.m. contest at Towson.