TAYLOR LEADS RAMS PAST JMU IN MEN'S HOOPS Box score Watch LaMar Taylor get one of his seven steals High Resolution (DSL-T1) Low Resolution (28.8-56K) RICHMOND, Va. - Senior LaMar Taylor (Richmond, Va./John Marshall) compiled 13 points and eight assists and tied a school single-game record for steals to lead Virginia Commonwealth to a 65-52 victory over James Madison in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Tuesday night at the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Taylor finished with a career-best seven steals and headed a superb defensive effort for the Rams, who seized sole possession of first place in the CAA with a 4-1 league record. VCU held the Dukes to just 35.7% shooting for the game, forced 16 turnovers and swatted away seven JMU shots. The Rams also held the Dukes' leading scorer, sophomore Pat Mitchell, to just three points on one-of-five shooting. VCU scored the game's first 13 points and never trailed at any point in improving to 11-7 overall. Sophomore Willie Taylor (Smyrna, Tenn./LaVergne) led the way with 16 points, while freshman Johnnie Story (Hampton, Va./Hampton) tied a career-high with 13 points in the win. JMU (6-10, 2-4 CAA) was paced by junior Tim Lyle's 18 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Charlie Hatter recorded 11 points and five assists off the bench. "I loved the way we came out of the locker room tonight," said VCU head coach Mack McCarthy. "We were good physically but we also gave a strong mental effort.." Lyle, who scored 12 first-half points, brought JMU to within four points (27-23) with a jumper at the three-minute mark of the opening period, but VCU regrouped to bring a 33-25 lead into the break. The Rams then held the Dukes without a field goal for the first 6:32 of the second half as VCU extended its advantage to 43-26 with 13:28 left to play. JMU never got closer then eight points the rest of the way. "In the first half we didn't do a good job with our decision-making and allowed them to get back into the game," McCarthy said. "In the second half we did some good things defensively." VCU will next play at Old Dominion in a crucial conference matchup. The game will be carried live on Home Team Sports television, with tip-off set for 7:35 p.m. The Rams next home matchup will be on Monday, January 22, when VCU battles North Carolina-Wilmington at 7:30 p.m.