MAYNOR, BURGESS RESCUE VCU IN OVERTIME THRILLER
2-11-09
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RICHMOND, Va. – On Eric Maynor’s list of unforgettable performances, this one will rank right up there with the best.

Maynor scored 13 of his 22 points in the final three minutes of regulation and overtime, and freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) (pictured, right) buried a game-clinching 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to lift Virginia Commonwealth University past James Madison, 76-71, Wednesday at the Siegel Center.

With the victory, the Rams pulled even with Northeastern, which fell to Drexel Wednesday, in the Colonial Athletic Association standings. Both teams are 11-3 in the league, although the Huskies own the tiebreaker, based on their head-to-head victory over VCU Jan. 27. The Rams are 18-7 overall. The Dukes slip to 16-10 on the year, as well as 8-6 in conference play.

Maynor (pictured, left) scored or assisted on all 14 VCU points in the overtime period.

Clinging to a 72-71 lead with the shot clock winding down, Maynor drove the lane before zipping a pass to Burgess on the left wing for a 3-pointer that gave the Rams a 75-71 edge. James Madison would not recover.

In a game that featured 14 ties and 18 lead changes, Maynor, was able to send the contest to overtime with two free throws with 6.7 seconds remaining.

Early in the extra period, the 6-3 guard from Raeford, N.C. knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Rams a 67-64 lead. After the Dukes rallied to knot the score at 67-67, Maynor found sophomore Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla.) for a trey to give VCU a 70-67 edge with 2:10 left.

James Madison drew near again following a Ben Louis drive and lay-up, but Maynor added a pull-up jumper in the lane with 1:16 showing to keep the Dukes at bay.

Maynor’s eight magnificent minutes down the stretch bore stark contrast to the early stages of the game, when he missed his first six 3-pointers.

“Every team is going to try to keep me out of the lane, and I think they did a good job of that in the first half and I got a little frustrated,” Maynor said. “But Coach Grant kept talking to me and telling me that I was fine and to keep my head up.”

In addition to his 22 points, Maynor handed out nine assists and grabbed four rebounds. Sophomore Brandon Rozzell (Richmond, Va.) added 13 points, buoying VCU during a difficult offensive slump in the second half. Rodriguez finished with 12 points, while sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) collected eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Julius Wells played all 45 minutes and scored 20 points with 11 rebounds for the Dukes. Devon Moore chipped in with 13 points and Dazzmond Thornton added 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Rams return to action on Saturday, February 14 when they travel to Norfolk, Va. to meet arch-rival Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at 2 p.m.