RAMS POST SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN WITH 53-44 VICTORY OVER BLAZERS
12-16-06
boxscore

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University forced 22 turnovers and held the University of Alabama at Birmingham to a season-low 30.8% from the floor as the Rams won their sixth straight in a 53-44 victory over the Blazers Saturday night at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU and UAB traded field goals through the first ten minutes of the contest as the Blazers took an early 11-7 lead, but the Rams would use a 17-2 run over the next four minutes to build a 24-13 advantage.  UAB, who held VCU scoreless over the final 4:41, used a 7-0 run to close the half as the Rams entered the locker room with a 24-20 lead.

The second half started much like the first as each squad traded buckets over the first five minutes before VCU used a 20-7 run that consumed 11 minutes to take their largest lead of the game, 17 points, at 51-34.  The Blazers would then use a 7-0 run to pull within 10 points with 1:35 remaining but it was the closest UAB would get.

The Rams, who held UAB to a season-low 44 points, were led by sophomore guard Eric Maynor’s (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.  Junior forward Wil Fameni (Duoala, Cameroon/Amelia Academy) and senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe), who had six rebounds, each scored 11 points for VCU.

Senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) added nine points for the Rams, while junior forward Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) chipped in seven points and eight rebounds.

UAB guard Maurice Gibbs (Carbondale, Ill./Moberly Area CC) led the Blazers with12 points and junior guard Paul Delaney (Decatur, Ga./Chamblee) added 11 points.

VCU, under the direction of first-year head coach Anthony Grant, begins Colonial Athletic Association play on Wednesday, Dec. 20, with a 7 p.m. home contest against Delaware in the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.