JMU FALLS 75-56 TO RAMS IN MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wednesday, February 13

Richmond, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

11-13 (4-10CAA)

VCU

19-5 (12-2CAA)

James Madison

VCU

2/13/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 13, 2008 ? Guards Jamal Shuler and Eric Maynor combined for 19 points as Virginia Commonwealth built a 17-point lead after less than 13 minutes, and the host Rams went on to beat James Madison 75-56 in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Wednesday.

Shuler had 10 points, including a pair of three-point field goals, and Maynor nine points, including a three-pointer, while Virginia Commonwealth was taking a 28-11 lead by the 7:23 mark of the opening half. Maynor added another three-pointer later during the period, and the Rams kept at least a 10-point lead the rest of the way after holding a 38-21 halftime edge.

Virginia Commonwealth improved to 19-5 overall and to a league-best 12-2 in the CAA with the win. JMU fell to 11-13 overall and to 4-10 in conference play.

JMU got scoring from four players while pulling to within 44-34 just more than four minutes into the final half, but Shuler hit for a three-point field goal at the 15:10 mark and JMU didn't get another field goal for more than seven minutes. Freshman guard Heiden Ratner (Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado) hit for a three-pointer at the 8:12 mark to break JMU's drought from the filed, but Virginia Commonwealth still led 57-43 at that point.

Shuler finished with a game-high 22 points and Maynor 16 for Virginia Commonwealth. Shuler hit on seven of nine shots overall and four of five from three-point range and had five rebounds and three assists. Maynor hit on six of 10 shots, including both of his three-point tries, and had a game-high five assists.

The Rams shot 55.6 percent (25-45) from the field overall and hit on eight of 15 attempts from three-point range (53.3 percent).

JMU shot 39.2 percent (20-51) overall and 20.0 percent from three-point range (2-10).