RAMS PUT FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES IN 75-63 VICTORY AT LONGWOOD
GRANT WINS IN VCU DEBUT AS HEAD COACH
11-13-06
boxscore

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) (pictured) led Virginia Commonwealth University with 15 points and six assists in 35 minutes as the Rams won 75-63 at Longwood Monday evening at sold-out Willett Hall in the head-coaching debut of VCU’s Anthony Grant.

The Rams (1-0) dominated play early, building a 25-9 lead in the game’s first nine minutes. VCU kept a double-figure lead through the rest of the period before taking a 38-24 lead at the break. Senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) scored all 10 of his points in the opening stanza.

VCU maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half over the Lancers (1-1). The Rams led by as many as 21, as a layup by junior forward Wil Fameni (Douala, Cameroon/Amelia Academy) pushed VCU ahead 52-31 with 14:30 left in the contest. Longwood battled back, closing to within 10 at 73-63 with 36 seconds remaining before Maynor hit a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to seal it.

“I was pleased to get the win in a hostile environment,” Grant said. “We didn’t play our best. We didn’t shoot particularly well. In terms of rebounding, I was pleased in the first half, but they dominated us in the second half. We have the potential to be a very good basketball team. But we must maintain our focus for 40 minutes.”

Junior forward Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./ Landstown) had 13 points and seven boards for the Rams. Fameni finished with 12 points and junior guard Jamal Shuler (Jacksonville, N.C./Jacksonville) added 10.

Senior guard Maurice Sumter had a game-high 22 points for Longwood. Junior forward Lamar Barrett posted a double-double for the home team with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

VCU travels to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament where the Rams will face nationally-ranked Xavier on Friday, November 17, at 6 p.m. EST.