VCU Edges Drexel, 52-48

Wednesday, January 5

Richmond, VA.

7:00

Drexel University

VCU

1/6/2011 2:30:12 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Richmond, Va. – Joey Rodriguez sank a three-pointer with 46 seconds and the Rams made five of six
free throws after a pair of Drexel technical fouls as VCU defeated the Dragons, 52-48, at the Siegel Center. Drexel dropped to 9-4 overall and 1-2 in the CAA, while the Rams, who won for the 17th straight time at home, improved to 10-5 and 2-1 in CAA play.

Chris Fouch gave the Dragons a 46-44 lead with just 59 seconds remaining with a pair of free throws. On the next possession, Rodriguez sank his only three-pointer of the night as VCU went ahead for good. Drexel had a chance to tie, but Fouch missed a jumper and after a foul was called on the Dragons, Drexel Head Coach Bruiser Flint was assessed a pair of technical fouls. Rodriguez made four freebies and Jamie Skeen was one of two from the line and the Rams escaped with the win.

Drexel held a 38-30 lead after Samme Givens made one of two from the line. That would be the last points the Dragons would score for a stretch of more than six and a half minutes. VCU went on an 11-0 run and took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes when Brandon Rozzell drained a three-pointer. Drexel finally broke the drought when Frantz Massenat made one of two at the line and Chris Fouch made an open three-pointer to put the Dragons up by one at 42-41. Givens went back to the line a few possessions later and sank both to give the Dragons a three-point lead. Drexel got a stop, but turned the ball over and VCU took advantage of the opportunity. Rozzell's three-point play tied it at the 1:15 mark.

The Dragons led for most of the first half despite some early foul difficulties. Samme Givens, the CAA's top rebounder and Drexel's second leading scorer, exited the game after picking up his second foul less than four minutes into the game. Daryl McCoy picked up three fouls in the first six minutes, as Drexel was forced to go to the bench early. Freshman Dartaye Ruffin picked up the slack, scoring eight points and grabbing seven boards in the half. Yannick Formbor played 14 minutes and did a good job defensively on VCU's big men. He also had four rebounds. Drexel held a six-point lead and the ball in the closing seconds of the half, but a turnover led to a foul, and VCU's Brandon Rozzell made two free throws with three seconds left to make it a 25-21 game at intermission. The Dragons defense held VCU to just seven field goals in the first half.

The Drexel defense played well all night and held the Rams' powerful offensive attack to just under 30 percent shooting. The Dragons owned the glass once again, outrebounding VCU, 46-29. Fouch led Drexel with 14 points, but was just 5-for-19 from the floor. Ruffin had another big game off the bench. He was 6-for-8 shooting and finished with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. The Dragons committed a season-high 23 turnovers, 15 of them coming in the second half. Brandon Burgess and Rozzell each scored 11 for the Rams.

Drexel returns to the Daskalakis Athletic Center on Saturday for a match-up with arch-rival Delaware. The Dragons and Blue Hens tip-off at 4 p.m. in a game that can be seen live on The Comcast Network.