WALKER PUTS NAME IN RECORD BOOK AS RAMS TOP COUGARS 71-59
11-18-06
boxscore

ST. THOMAS, V.I. – Senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) became the school’s career three-point leader and 25th 1,000-point scorer as the Rams finished the game on a 24-9 run over the final nine minutes as Virginia Commonwealth University defeated the College of Charleston 71-59 in the second round of the Paradise Jam at the Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of the University of Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

The Rams (2-1) held the Cougars (1-2) without a field goal over the final 8:44 of the contest. VCU took the lead for good at 53-52 on a jumper by junior forward Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) with 6:05 remaining. Following a steal, Walker buried a trey with 5:52 left, tying the career mark of Bo Jones and pushing Walker over the 1,000-point mark. Walker broke the career three-point mark with 1:21 remaining, giving the Rams their biggest lead of the game at 68-55.

Charleston led through most of the first half. The Cougars built a 14-5 lead in the game’s first 11 minutes before a 12-2 run gave VCU its first lead at 17-16 with six minutes left in the period. The Cougars pushed the lead back to six before taking a 30-28 advantage at the break.

“I’m proud of the way our guys fought tonight,” said VCU head coach Anthony Grant. “We had to overcome foul trouble in the first half. Our guys showed character and heart, especially in the second half. Tonight we imposed our will and gutted out a victory.”

Senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) led the Rams with 18 points. Junior forward Wil Fameni (Douala, Cameroon/Amelia Academy) and sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) each had 12 points for VCU. Walker finished with 10 points, five assists and five rebounds.

“Our effort was great tonight,” said Pellot-Rosa. “In the second half, we picked up our defensive intensity. We knocked down some shots in the second half. We rebounded better tonight.”

“It was a hard-fought game at both ends,” said Walker. “Charleston fought hard throughout the game. We stuck together and were the better team tonight.”

Dontaye Draper had 20 points and six assists for the Cougars. Jermaine Johnson had 10 points for Charleston.

VCU held a 38-26 advantage on the boards, including a 15-3 edge on the offensive glass. The Rams forced 22 Cougar turnovers.

VCU will face Toledo on Monday, Nov. 20, at 3:30 p.m. EST in the third round of the Paradise Jam. The game will be broadcast only on 100.3 FM.

Second round scores:
Toledo 75, Middle Tennessee 69 OT
VCU 71, College of Charleston 59
Alabama 72, Iowa 60
Xavier 71, Villanova 66