VCU Athletics-Men's Basketball

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH RUNS TO 101-86 VICTORY OVER VMI IN CULLATHER CLASSIC
12-21-99
Riding a wave of high-percentage shooting, Virginia Commonwealth downed VMI by a final of 101-86 in the seventh annual Chris Cullather Classic, which benefits brain tumor research at Virginia Commonwealth's MCV Hospital, on Tuesday night in the ALLTEL Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. It was the Rams' fifth win at home in six games thus far this season.

Junior guard Bo Jones (Richmond, Va.) sparked the Rams, as he finished with 27 points, his third 20-plus scoring outing of the season. Sophomore forward Shawn Hampton (Baltimore, Md.) scored in double figures for the second straight game as he tallied 17 points. Junior guard LaMar Taylor led Virginia Commonwealth with a career-high nine rebounds while adding 13 points. Taylor also finished with nine assists, leaving him just one rebound and one assist shy of recording just the second triple double in school history. Junior guard Scott Lilly rounded out a quartet of Rams in double figures, as he had 10 points. Richard Bruce led five Keydets in double figures, as he scored 15 points.

Virginia Commonwealth was able to push out to an early lead thanks to a number of good looks at the basket. Of the Rams' 22 field goals in the first half, 16 were in the paint. The Rams were 22-of-36 from the field in the first half (61.1 percent), the second time in three halves they have shot better than 60 percent from the field.

VMI was equal to the task, answering each run by Virginia Commonwealth with one of its own. Jones scored 17 of his 27 points in the opening period, but was answered by 13 points from the Keydets' Bruce. The Rams lead never grew larger than eight points in the game's first 20 minutes.

In the second half, Virginia Commonwealth was able to build a double-digit lead, but VMI did not let the Rams get away easily. The Keydets cut the lead back to single digits on five occasions before the Rams took a 10-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. Virginia Commonwealth would lead by as much as 20 before VMI hit some baskets late to close the gap.

The Rams now stand at 5-4 after sweeping both ends of a two-game homestand. VMI has now lost four straight and is 5-6 on the season. Virginia Commonwealth will hit the road for one game as the Rams travel to Pittsburgh. Game time on Thursday is set for 7:30 p.m.

© , Virginia Commonwealth University
Maintained by the VCU Sports Information Department
Comments? VCU Sports Information