VCU TOPS VUU 77-56 IN UKROP'S FIRST MARKET BANK CITY CHALLENGE
Walker pours in 22; Roland adds 18
11-8-06
boxscore

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) (pictured) scored a game-high 22 points and senior center Calvin Roland (Hephzibah, Ga./Hephzibah) added 18, leading Virginia Commonwealth University to a 77-56 victory over cross-town rival Virginia Union University in the Ukrop’s First Market Bank City Challenge Wednesday night at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Walker, who was 5-for-9 from three-point range on the night, led VCU with 14 first-half points as the Rams went on a 15-6 run to end the period.  VCU took advantage of 17 Panther turnovers to claim a 38-23 lead at intermission.

The second half began much like the first as VCU started with an 18-8 run, extending their lead to 25 points at 56-31 with 12:23 remaining.  The Rams, led by Roland’s 11 second half-points, saw 10 players score in the contest.

Junior forward Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) was a perfect 4 for 4 from the floor as he added eight points and eight rebounds for the Rams, while sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) finished with six points, eight assists and two steals.

Sophomore forward Greg Thondique (Norfolk, Va.) led Virginia Union with14 points, seven rebounds and three steals.  Freshman guard Brandon Byerson (Colonial Heights, Va.) added 12 points and senior forward Chris Greene (Richmond, Va.) chipped in 11 for the Panthers.

VCU opens its regular-season schedule on November 13 at Longwood University and then travels to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament where the Rams will face nationally-ranked Xavier on November 17.