RAMS PUT FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES, BUT FALL TO BRAVES 73-64
2-17-07
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. - VCU had five players score in double figures, but it was not enough to offset 22 points by Jeremy Crouch as Bradley claimed a 73-64 victory in a BracketBusters matchup Saturday evening in front of a sellout crowd of 7,584 at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Crouch hit his first three shots behind the arc as the Braves (19-10) built an 11-6 lead in the first five minutes. After Crouch's fourth trey gave BU a 14-11 advantage, the Rams (22-6) scored 11 straight points, capped by a pair of three-pointers by senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa, to take a 22-14 lead with nine minutes left in the period. Pellot-Rosa's third trey of the half gave the Rams their largest lead at 28-18 with seven minutes left in the half. Bradley then used a 16-4 spurt to take a 34-32 edge with 27 seconds left. Freshman forward T.J. Gwynn completed a three-point play with 8.7 seconds left to give the home team a 35-34 advantage at the break.

Gwynn's layup on VCU's first possession of the second half put the Rams on top 37-34. The Braves then used an 18-7 run to take a 52-44 lead with 11:30 left in the contest. VCU made several runs at Bradley, but the visitors always had an answer. The Braves scored their final eight points from the free throw line to secure the 73-64 victory.

Pellot-Rosa finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Senior guard B.A. Walker had 12 points and four assists. Junior guard Jamal Shuler and junior forward Michael Anderson each had 11 points, while Gwynn finished with 10 points and six boards.

Crouch was 8-11 from the floor and 6-9 on three-pointers. Daniel Ruffin had 19 points and six assists for the Braves. Zach Andrews added 12 points with eight rebounds, while Will Franklin finished with 11 points.

VCU returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 24, with a 7:30 p.m. home CAA contest against James Madison at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.