GWYNN POSTS SEASON-HIGH 20 POINTS AS VCU WINS 68-54 AT RICHMOND
12-9-06
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RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman forward T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) scored a season-high 20 points to lead Virginia Commonwealth University past the University of Richmond 68-54 Saturday evening at the Robins Center in the Farm Bureau Insurance Black & Blue Classic.

The Rams (7-2) won their fifth straight game this season and third in a row over the Spiders (4-4)

VCU jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Richmond tied it at 7-7 six minutes into the contest. The Rams then used a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage, their largest lead in the first half. UR scored five straight points to pull to within two at 14-12. VCU was up one at 15-14 before an 8-2 spurt gave the visitors another seven-point cushion at 23-16 with two minutes left in the period. The Rams took a 24-19 lead to the locker room at the break. Gwynn paced the Rams with seven first-half points.

The Rams started the second half with a 10-4 run to take a 34-23 lead. Senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) scored eight of the 10 points for VCU. Drew Crank made two layups to pull the Spiders to within nine at 38-29 before a 15-4 spurt by the Rams gave VCU its largest lead at 53-33 with eight minutes left. Gwynn had nine points during that run. UR scored 13 straight points over the next four minutes to close to within seven at 53-46 with four minutes left. Sophomore guard Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) hit a floater for the Rams to stop the UR run. Gwynn hit two free throws, Pellot-Rosa had a steal and layup, senior guard B.A. Walker (Onancock, Va./Nandua) hit a three-pointer and Pellot-Rosa added two free throws and a tipin to complete a 13-2 run to give VCU a 66-48 lead on its way to a 68-54 victory.

Gwynn had 20 points, going 6 for 7 from the floor and 8 for 11 from the foul line. Pellot-Rosa finished with 19 points and Walker added 11. Maynor had 11 assists and six rebounds for the victors.

David Gonzalvez had 17 points for Richmond, its lone double-figure scorer. He also had seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Rams return to action on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. as they play host to UAB at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.