PELLOT-ROSA SCORES 22 AS VCU HOLDS OFF VSU 84-78 IN EXHIBITION OPENER
11-2-06
boxscore

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa (Richmond, Va./George Wythe) scored a team-high 22 points as Virginia Commonwealth University beat Virginia State, 84-78, in an exhibition match-up Thursday night at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU started the game with a 10-1 lead in the first 2:03 of the contest but watched Virginia State go on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take an early 13-12 advantage.

The Rams tied the score on a free throw by redshirt freshman T.J. Gwynn (Burlington, N.C./Cummings) and regained the lead, which VCU would hold the remainder of the game, on three-pointer by Pellot-Rosa at the 12:53 mark. 

Nine Rams scored in the first half, led by Pellot-Rosa’s 12 points.  VCU led by as many as 14 points before the break and used a 17-8 run to close the half, leading the Trojans 49-39 at intermission.

Virginia State would pull within four points in the second half at 82-78 with 0:58 seconds remaining in the contest, but a dunk by junior Michael Anderson (Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown) sealed the Rams victory as it gave the squad a six point lead with 0:33 to go.

Anderson chipped in 15 points while sophomore Eric Maynor (Fayetteville, N.C./Westover) added 12 points, six assists and four steals for the Rams.

Senior center Avis Wyatt (Petersburg, Va./Petersburg) scored a game-high 23 points for Virginia State.

The Rams, under first-year head coach Anthony Grant, will entertain cross-town rival Virginia Union University in their final exhibition meeting on Wednesday, November 8 before beginning their regular season slate at Longwood University on November 13.