RAMS PUT FOUR IN DOUBLE FIGURES, BUT FALL TO ROCKETS AT PARADISE JAM
11-20-06
boxscore

ST. THOMAS, V.I. – For the fourth time this season, Virginia Commonwealth University had at least four players score in double figures, but the Rams came up one point short as the University of Toledo claimed a 60-59 victory in the third 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 (2-2) and Rockets (2-2) were even in several statistical categories, with 32 rebounds, 11 turnovers, eight steals and 20 fouls.

Toledo did not trail in the first half. The Rockets jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest. VCU used an 8-2 run to narrow the margin to four at 16-12 with 8:30 left in the period. UT then used a 9-2 spurt to push the lead to 11 at 25-14 with four minutes remaining in the half. The Rams had a 7-1 run to make the score 26-21 with one minute left before Keonta Howell nailed a three-pointer for the Rockets with 25 seconds left to give Toledo a 29-21 lead at intermission. Sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) led the Rams with seven first-half points. Howell had 13 points in the opening stanza for UT.

VCU started the second half with a 14-4 run in the first four minutes to knot the score at 35-35. A free throw by senior center Calvin Roland (Hephizibah, Ga./Aiken Tech) with 12:16 remaining gave VCU its first lead at 38-37. A pair of foul shots by Roland with 5:17 left put the Rams on top 50-48. Florentino Valencia’s tip-in with 4:49 left knotted the score at 50-50. Valencia hit a jumper with 2:26 left to snap a 52-52 tie and give the Rockets a lead they would not relinquish. Senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) (pictured) hit a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to pull VCU to within one at 60-59. UT’s Justin Ingram was fouled with one second left. After missing the first free throw, Ingram appeared to deliberately miss the second. Pellot-Rosa got the rebound and launched a three-quarter court shot at the buzzer that hit the backboard but did not fall as the Rockets secured the 60-59 win.

“I thought Toledo came out tonight and showed more aggression and passion early in the game,” said VCU head coach Anthony Grant. “We showed the marks of a young basketball team. We still need to understand that we have to play for 40 minutes. We are showing signs of becoming a team that can do that. I hope we will be able to learn from this experience.”

Pellot-Rosa had all of his 13 points in the second half. He also led the Rams with seven rebounds. Maynor and junior forward Wil Fameni (Douala, Cameroon/Amelia Academy) each had 11 points, while Roland finished with 10 for VCU.

Valencia led the Rockets with 21 points and six rebounds. Howell finished with 18 points and five boards for Toledo.

VCU will have its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 25, as the Rams play host to Hampton at 7:30 p.m. in the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Third round scores:
College of Charleston 64, Middle Tennessee 56
Toledo 60, VCU 59