Multi-platinum recording artist/occasional contributer to ESPN’s “First Take”, Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter, recently name dropped VCU’s Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders in a MTV News video saying, “Shout out to Maynor and Sanders. I love those boys”. Hit up the link and check out the video for yourself.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606980/20090313/lil_wayne.jhtml

RICHMOND, Va. –Most Outstanding Player Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.) scored 25 points and Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) set a tournament single-game record with 20 rebounds and 18 points to lead at 71-50 Virginia Commonwealth University rout of George Mason Monday in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game at the Richmond Coliseum.

It’s VCU’s third title in six years and fourth overall. The victory sends the Rams (24-9) to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in school history.

Maynor, who also handed out eight assists, and Sanders sparked VCU to a 30-19 halftime lead from which the Patriots would never recover.

Sanders, who tied David Robinson’s CAA Tournament record for blocks in a game with seven, keyed a herculean VCU defensive effort. The Rams held George Mason to 31 percent (18-of-59) shooting from the floor and outrebounded the Patriots, 39-32.

In addition, Sanders’ 40 rebounds in three games set a CAA Tournament record, also held by Robinson since 1986.

Meanwhile, the Rams shot 52 percent (13-of-25) in the first half and 49 percent (26-of-53) for the game. VCU never trailed and led by as many as 23 points, the most the Patriots have fallen behind in a game all season.

Freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) and sophomore Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla.) added eight points apiece for the Black and Gold.

Dre Smith provided one of the few bright spots for George Mason, scoring 23 points. Smith hit five 3-pointers, but couldn’t pull the Patriots closer than 12 points in the second half.

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.) scored a game-high 23 points to spark Virginia Commonwealth University to a 61-53 win over rival-Old Dominion in a Colonial Athletic Association semifinal game Sunday at the Richmond Coliseum.

The victory sends the Rams (23-9) to the CAA Championship game Monday at 7 p.m. VCU will meet the winner of Sunday’s other semifinal between George Mason and Towson. VCU has played in five previous CAA title games, winning three. It last won the title in 2007.

Maynor, the CAA’s Player of the Year the last two seasons, scored 13 of his points in the second half. Sophomore Larry Sanders (Fort Pierce, Fla.) provided his eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds for VCU.

Frank Hassell led Old Dominion (21-10) with 14 points and six rebounds. Gerald Lee, the Monarch’s leading scorer and a First Team All-CAA pick, was held to five points on 1-of-7 shooting.

VCU limited ODU to 25-percent shooting (6-of-24) in the second half and just 32 percent overall. The Monarchs were just 1-of-9 from 3-point range on the day.

Maynor and freshman Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) both hit 3-pointers during a sequence late in the second half that pushed the Black and Gold to a 53-44 advantage with 4:43 left. Old Dominion never recovered.

ODU got off to a quick start, charging to a 23-13 lead behind 10 points from Hassell. At one point in the first half, the Monarchs held a 14-4 rebounding edge. But Maynor scored 10 points during a 12-1 VCU blitz to give the Rams a 25-24 lead.

Old Dominion would take a 28-27 lead into the locker room, following a Marsharee Neely three-point play.

VCU played both George Mason and Towson once this season, winning both games.