HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Virginia Commonwealth University senior Eric Maynor (Raeford, N.C.) scored 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half to rally the Rams past Hofstra, 66-62, Saturday at the Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
VCU improved to 16-6 overall and 9-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association with the victory. The loss snapped Hofstra’s four-game winning streak and dropped the Pride to 14-8 overall and 6-5 in the CAA.
The Rams trailed by as many as 12 in the game, but Maynor scored 11 straight VCU points midway through the second half to tie the contest at 50-50. The teams traded baskets for several minutes until a 6-0 Maynor run gave VCU a 64-58 advantage with 1:42 showing. Later, with the Rams holding a 64-60 lead, sophomore Joey Rodriguez (Oviedo, Fla.) ripped a steal and threw to Maynor, who found a wide open Bradford Burgess (Midlothian, Va.) for a dunk and six-point lead with 35 seconds left.
In addition to his 33 points, his fifth 30-point game of the season, Maynor grabbed nine rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked two shots. He also combined to provide suffocating defense on Hofstra’s Charles Jenkins. Jenkins scored 22 points in the game, but was just 5-of-23 from the field.
Burgess added 11 points and Rodriguez had four steals for the Rams.
VCU limited Hofstra to 25 percent (7-of-28) shooting in the second half. Meanwhile, the Rams knocked down 50 percent (14-of-28) from the field in the period.
The Black and Gold return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 4 when it travels to Wilmington, N.C. to meet UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.
