There’s quite a bit of history between these two teams, although the last few years have taken a little bit of luster off a series that used to be one of the CAA’s best.
UNCW is 4-7 on the year against a tough schedule that includes losses to George Mason, Wake Forest, George Washington and Miami. The largest margin of victory against UNC Wilmington this year is just 11. A big reason for that success has been the inside presence of John Fields (13.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg) and the outside presence of Chad Tomko (15.5 ppg, 4.6 apg).
VCU is riding a three-game winning streak after posting close victories over Richmond, Tulane and East Carolina. The Rams have not lost since a 75-74 decision at CAA upstart William & Mary back on Dec 5.
30:00 mins before tip: The Siegel is incredibly quit right now. UNCW is on the floor for pregame warm-ups.
23:00 mins before tip: The Rams have taken the floor for their pre-game warm-ups. Larry is all smiles.
16:03 before tip: What is the new obsession with shin pads in basketball? I dont know what the chances are that one might get kicked in the shins. It's all about the fashion. Santil is rocking a pair..
11:00 mins before tip: Both teams have left the floor for their locker rooms.
4:00 mins before tip: The Total Package is getting into the pep band's version of the MJ classic Thriller!
3:35 mins before tip: VCU takes the floor to a lethargic applause from the VCU faithful.
Final Buzzer sounds before tip. UNCW looks focused. VCU looks relaxed and ready to battle. Our floor announcer is rolling his r's now for Joey's intro.
20:00 Lets get it on! UNCW takes the tip. Possession arrow for VCU. The student section is belting an ole style soccer chant.
18:59 VCU draws first blood as Burgess gets a second effort to go. VCU 2 - UNCW O.
18:00 UNCW wants to pound it inside but cant get anything to go. VCU is not doing much better. Still 2-0 VCU.
17:22 VCU is pressing to start the game. They earn a quick turn over for their effort.
17:06 VCU's newly eligible forward Skeen gets fouled on a inside put back. He sticks the charity shot to put VCU up 5-0 on the Seahawks.
16:45 Skeen is doing work inside! Another stick back for the Wake transfer.
16:13 Larry Sanders gets his second block igniting a break the other way. Rozzell hits a huge three in front of the Wilmington bench. UNCW head coach Benny Moss has to take a timeout to quiet the crowd and slow the Ram momentum. VCU 10 - UNCW 0.
15:55 UNCW gets on the board with a inside layup. 10-2 VCU.
14:41 VCU continue to pound it inside. Jamie Skeen gets laid out under the basket to earn another trip to the line. He hits the first. The second shot rims out. Skeen now has 6 of the rams first 12 points. VCU 12 - UNCW 2.
13:01 Ed Nixon nails a three in front of the UNCW bench. Santil steals the inbounds pass and get a layup and a foul. VCU 17 - UNCW 2.
Timeout UNCW!
12:53 Santil is unable to convert on the free throw. UNCW's only playmaker Chad Tomko sets up the Seahawk's offense. Nothing doing UNCW hoists another air ball. Nothing is going UNCW's way.
11:43 VCU gets back to back layups from Fields and Terrance Santil. VCU 21 - UNCW 2.
11:01 UNCW continue to be bothered by VCU's pressing defense. Johnny Wolf just sailed a pass into the 4th row.
10:37 Joey Rodriguez nails a 3 from the top of the key to make it a 24-2 VCU advantage. UNCW is finally able to get a layup inside to end their drought.
9:55 Bradford Burgess answers with yet another inside bucket for the Rams. 26-2 VCU.
8:22 Another steal for VCU. I am starting to feel bad for UNCW... not really.
7:58 Another drive to the lane by Junior Joey Rodriguez is rewarded with another trip to the line for the Rams. He hits 1 of 2.
A quick note on UNCW's poor shooting. They are now 2-21 from the field. That is an incredible 9.5% in the first 13 minutes. The Rams on the other hand are shooting at a 43.5% clip.
6:30 Larry Sanders ignites the Siegel Center crowd with an oop to put the Rams up 29-4. Benny Moss is in disbelief.
5:45 It continues to get worse for Wilmington. TJ Gwynn bricks a three but is fouled on the way down. He hits all three. VCU 32 - UNCW 6.
4:27 Ed Nixon taps in a Gavin miss. VCU 36 - UNC 6.
4:01 UNCW's most expereinced and only weapon Chad Tomko has been on the bench now for 7 mins with ZERO points.
3:23 UNCW gets a bucket and a round of applause from the Siegel Center faithful. VCU 38 - UNCW 8.
2:45 The Kremlin enter the game for the first time to a thunderous ovation. He get the ball inside and earns a trip to the line for his efforts. He hits both shots VCU 40 UNCW 11.
1:53 Two more free throws for Kirill extends the Rams lead to 31.
1:03 Tomko gets to the line for the Seahawks. He hits both free throws. Those are his first points of the game.
Halftime! VCU 43 - UNCW 17.
Every available Ram played in the first half and the scoring was balanced. Larry Sanders leads the way with seven points and four blocked shots. Chad Tomko leads the way for UNCW with 7 points.
Any ideas on what Benny Moss said to his team at half? I am thinking he has all five starters in a Texas Tech equipment shed guarded by a couple of grad students. Me and my buddy Marc are debating on wether or not our YMCA rec. team could get 17 in a half against the Rams. We did have more depth then this Seahawks team.
20:00 UNCW will open the half with the ball. The continue to try and go inside without much coming from it except 808's and heartbreaks.
19:11 VCU scores first with a nice reverse layup from JRod followed by a steal by Burgess and layup from TJ Gwynn. VCU 47 - UNCW 17.
18:00 continue pressing and causing all kinds of problems for UNCW. Even when the Seahawks were able to get a 2 on 1 break Larry Sanders managed to get a steal igniting a break that saw a behind the back pass from TJ Gwynn and a dunk from Bradford Burgess. VCU 51 - UNCW 17.
17:16 UNCW is settling for three pointers now. Coach Benny Moss has removed all of his starting 5 with the exception of Tomko.
16:24 UNCW gets their first bucket of the half, a layup by Keith Rendleman.
15:46 Three point bucket from Larry Sanders is good followed by yet another steal and dunk by Bradford Burgess. VCU 62 - UNCW 23.
14:28 VCU has opened the half shooting 90%, 9-10 while Wilmington conitinues it poor shooting at 27%.
13:45 A three pointer goes for Jay Gavin to extend the VCU lead to 39. Looks like the refs are trying to help out UNCW on the offensive end. They have been bailed out on two balls that should have been turnovers.
12:01 We are almost three quarters of the way through this one and the Rams have held UNCW's scoring duo of Fields and Tomko to just 11 points. Combined they are averaging nearly 30 points a game. VCU 70 - UNCW 27.
11:20 Larry Sanders hits two more free throws amidst chants of "We want Tomko" from the VCU student section. Tomko is sulking at the end of the UNCW bench.
11:05 David Hinton enters the game for Larry Sanders. Standing ovation continues.
11:00 Johnny Wolf heads to the line for UNCW. The entire stadium is howling. VCU 74 - uncw 31.
10:35 VCU head coach Shaka Smart continues to empty is bench. Freshman Issaih Grayson is back in the game. I wonder what the Rams biggest margin of victory is? I will have to ask the internets.
9:41 Troy Daniels enters the games for the Rams and quickly drains a three. VCU continues to roll 77-31.
8:37 Chad Tomko gets a deep three to fall for the Seahawks. Does it matter at this point?
6:38 Darius Theus hits 1 of 2 from the line. I think everyone in a VCU lineup except Rodney has now scored.
5:54 The howling continues as Johnny Wolf drives to the net and bricks off the rim. Shouts of Lone Wolf and Teen Wolf can be heard. VCU 83 - UNCW 47.
4:29 Issiah Grayson earns a trip to the line. He hits both free throws. Its official the entire men's basketball team has scored in this game!
4:01 Wait! Just kidding! David Hinton has yet to score. He gets two chances from the line and cant convert. VCU is up by 38. VCU 87 - UNCW 49.
3:35 David Hinton hits a sinks a jumper and everyone has scored for VCU! Those were also Hinton first points in a VCU uniform. Rams 89 - Seahawks 50.
1:48 Trevor Deloach hits a three for UNCW. He has the only points of anyone on the court for the Seahawks.
FINAL! VCU 91 - UNCW 57.
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