GWYNN SCORES 14 OFF BENCH AS TOP-SEEDED VCU ADVANCES IN CAA TOURNEY
3-3-07
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman forward T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) scored 13 of his team-high 14 points in the second hald as top-seeded Virginia Commonwealth University defeated No. 9 Georgia State, 73-60, in Saturday’s quarterfinal action of the 2007 Aeropostale CAA Men’s Basketball Championship at the Richmond Coliseum.

VCU opened the game with a three-point play by junior forward Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) and led from start to finish.  The Rams jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first 3:55 and held a 16-point advantage at 23-7 with 9:16 remaining in the first half.  Georgia State answered with an 11-2 spurt of their own led by sophomore Leonard Mendez, who had two of his three first half three-pointers, to pull within seven points at 29-22 with 4:36 to go.  Each squad traded baskets over the remainder of the period as VCU held a 43-33 halftime lead.

Georgia State came out of the locker room on a 12-5 run that allowed the Panthers to get within three points at 48-45 with 13:39 remaining.  Mendez again led the charge for State as he hit two treys and scored eight of the 12 points.  VCU held the Panthers scoreless over the next 6:34 as the Rams scored 12 straight points to build a 15-point lead of 60-45.  VCU built an 18-point lead and added to the 12-point run as the Rams finished the spurt having scored 22 of the next 29 points, with Gwynn tallying 13.

Junior guard Jamal Shuler (Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville) added 13 points for the Rams and Anderson finished with 12 points and eight boards. Sophomore point guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) chipped in 10 points and dished out nine assists for VCU.

Mendez netted a game-high 22 points for Georgia State, which included 6-of-11 shooting from three-point range.  Senior forward Lance Perique added 15 points and junior center Deven Dickerson scored 13 points and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds.

VCU will play No. 4 Drexel in Sunday’s first semifinal at 3:00 p.m.