RAMS FALL AT HOFSTRA, 79-68
Fameni registers double-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds
Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The 10-winning streak of the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s basketball team was snapped on Wednesday evening as the Rams fell at Hofstra University, 79-68, in Colonial Athletic Association action.

The Black and Gold fall to 19-4 overall and 11-1 in the CAA, while the Pride improve to 17-6 and 10-2 in conference play.

Loren Stokes and Carlos Rivera led the Pride out of the gate as the two guards combined for 13 of the Pride’s first 16 points as Hofstra jumped out to a 16-12 advantage with 8:51 showing on the first half clock.

Sophomore Eric Maynor gave the Rams the lead, 17-16, with 7:46 remaining in the first period as he connected on back-to-back possessions for the Black and Gold.

Antoine Agudio found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc on consecutive Hofstra possessions from to give the Pride a 24-19 lead with 4:09 remaining before halftime.

Junior Jamal Shuler stayed hot for the Black and Gold as he scored seven straight points for the Rams to cut the lead to 29-28 with less than two minutes left in the first half.

Hofstra would close out the first half with four straight points from the charity stripe as the Pride held a 33-28 with the two teams headed to the locker rooms.

Junior Wil Fameni caught fire out of the locker rooms as he scored seven of the Rams’ first nine second half points, connecting on an old-fashioned three-point play with 17:22 showing on the second half clock to cut the Hofstra lead to 39-37.

After Rivera pushed the Pride lead to 49-44, the Rams answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Shuler and senior Jesse Pellot-Rosa to cut the lead to 51-50 with 9:07 left in regulation.

Agudio would answer as he did all night as he knocked down another three-pointer to extend the Hofstra lead to 56-50 with 7:54 remaining.

Maynor drove the lane and put in a lay-up with 5:29 left in the contest to cut the deficit to 60-56, but that was the closest the Rams would get the rest of the way as Agudio and Stokes combined for 31 second-half points.

Fameni finished with his second career double-double as the junior chipped in 15 points and collected 14 boards. Maynor registered 15 points, while Shuler contributed 17 points to the VCU effort. Senior B.A. Walker was the final Ram in double-figures as the guard connected for 11 points for the Black and Gold

Agudio and Stokes were the difference as the guard combination scored 51 of the Pride's 79 points. Agudio knocked down four three-pointers and totaled 30 points on the night, while Stokes chipped in 21 points. Rivera was the third Pride player in double-digits with 10 points.

VCU lost for the first time in January, posting a 10-1 mark in the month. Ten victories is the most ever for the Rams in one month. One loss matches the least for the month of January.

The Rams are back in action this Saturday afternoon as they host Georgia State in a 2 p.m. contest.