1/8/09

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Sophomore Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla.) scored 16 points and Virginia Commonwealth University held Drexel to 18-percent shooting in the second half on the way to a 75-46 rout Thursday at the Daskalakis Center.

Rodriguez knocked down 4-of-5 3-pointers for the Rams, who hit nine of their first 10 treys before finishing the game 9-of-12 overall. Rodriguez, who scored 25 points against UNC Wilmington Monday, is 9-of-12 from beyond the arc in the last two games.

VCU (10-5, 3-1 CAA) led, 32-28, in the waning moments of the first half before freshmanBradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) (pictured) beat the buzzer with a 3-point bucket. The Rams opened the second half with a 24-5 blitz to give VCU a 59-33 lead with 10:42 remaining.

Drexel, which missed 20 of its first 22 shots coming out of the locker room, was just 6-of-33 from the field in the second half. The Dragons (5-8, 1-3) were also 12-of-24 from the free throw line.

The 29-point margin of victory is VCU’s largest of the season, and the 46 points are the fewest the Rams have allowed this year.

Sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots for VCU, while Burgess finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.), who provided eight points, failed to score in double figures for the first time in 31 games, but handed out eight assists and collected two steals.

Samme Givens led the Dragons with 11 points, while Gerald Colds added 10.

The Rams return home to host Hofstra in a CAA-tilt at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart. C. Siegel Center on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 12 p.m.