RICHMOND, Va. – For the second day in a row, Old Dominion couldn’t hit from the perimeter, following up a 2-13 effort from the arc in the Hofstra win with 1-9 today. But unlike yesterday’s game, this day Gerald Lee couldn’t finish at the goal, then turned his ankle (on the same foot that was injured previously), limiting his effectiveness in the second half. That left tough-rebounding ODU up by just a point at halftime (28-27), and vulnerable to two-time Player of the Year Eric Maynor in the second half. And Maynor took over the game in the second half, leading VCU to a comfortable 61-53 win.
But respectfully, this game was not lost by ODU in the second half, when Maynor dominated and Lee was limping and ineffective. It was lost in the first half, when the Monarchs had all the better of the play, except couldn’t finish their plays. At half-time, ODU led VCU on the boards 20-12, had taken 4 more shots than VCU, and 2 more free throws. Bookend sophomore forwards Frank Hassell and Ben Finney had 10 and five points respectively, three and two rebounds. But as Tim Duncan-like as he was the night before, this day Lee was less aggressive at the rim, and while he was able to get clean close looks in the first half, he pulled back and looked tentative with the ball, making just 1 of his 6 first half shots. That and his teammates hitting just 1-5 from the arc in that half left the door open, and as usual, Maynor would walk right through that door.
When VCU had pressed in the first half, ODU had been ready, and with only five first half turnovers, the Monarchs were able to do some business offensively behind the press. Not so in the second half. While forcing just four additional ODU turnovers, in the second stanza full-court defense caused ODU out of their rhythm, both to take poor shots and to miss their good ones, and ODU shot just 25 percent from the field in the second stanza, 0-4 from the arc.
And Maynor put on an offensive clinic, penetrating, looking to score first, but also distributing, scoring 13 of his 23 points after halftime (on 4-6 shooting, including a big three), and dishing out three of his four assists. The game was largely over at the under-four media timeout.
In addition to Maynor’s 23, sophomore center Larry Sanders scored 12 (on 5-10 shooting) and his 14 boards ultimately kept VCU within five for the game in that all-important category. For the losers, with Lee contributing just five (on 1-7) and just four boards, Frank Hassell was strong near the goal with 14 points (on 5-7) and six boards, and sophomore forward Keyon Carter came off the bench to score 12 (on 4-8) and grab three rebounds.
ODU Coach Blaine Taylor took an extra minute or two to compose himself, then after noting that Lee hurt his ankle commented obliquely that “there are inequities in basketball, as guards are much more protected than forwards. Some teams send big strong players at your talented forwards with instructions to foul as much as they can, and hope the officials don’t call all of them.” Obviously, Taylor was alluding to VCU’s two-headed defensive monster that shared the assignment of guarding Lee, 6-10 Sanders and 6-8 power forward Kirill Pishchalnikov.
When I asked VCU Coach Anthony Grant about Defender of the Year Sanders’ improved ability to defend without fouling (and therefore stay on the court), Grant agreed, adding that “Larry has learned a lot in two years, from Eric among others, and now knows what he has to do to help us, including how to stay out on the floor.”
Tomorrow, in the CAA Final, VCU will face either in-state rival George Mason, or Pat Kennedy’s upstart Towson Tigers. The winner gets an automatic bid to the big dance.
