Nov. 13, 2009

Box Score

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Richmond, Virginia

VCU Wins Season Opener Over Wildcats 77-51

Virginia Commonwealth University (1-0) had four players score in double figures and the Rams hit 11 three-pointers to beat the Wildcats 77-51 in the season opener for both teams.

'We were beat by a much better team tonight, “ said B-CU Head Coach Cliff Reed. “They (VCU) were more experienced and they had more players that could make plays.  They are big and talented and well coached. We will go through the growing pains with our new guys and right now we just have one player who can make plays for us. They pressed the whole game and it wore us down in the second half.”

VCU was 24-10 in 2008-2009 and return four starters from last year's CAA Conference tournament champion and NCAA qualifier. Point guard Joey Rodriguez led the team with 17 points and hit three long range three-pointers in the win.

The Wildcats (0-1) were led by sophomore guard C. J. Reed with 21 points and junior forward Alexander Starling registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The game was tied 17-17 with 9:45 to play in the first half before the Rams were in the double bonus and hit 12-16 free throws in the first half to go ahead 41-21.  In the final 10 minutes of the first half – VCU outscored the Wildcats 24-4 to take the commanding lead.

“We were out matched and it won't get any easier Sunday (at Old Dominion University) playing against the co-players of the years in the Conference (CAA),” said Coach Reed. “We knew going into the trip it would be tough for us and we prepared well and we ready for all that happened in the game. Our goal is to be ready come conference time.”

In the game, B-CU shot only 17-49 (34.7 %) – Starling was the only Wildcats shooting .500 (hitting 5-10 in the contest). See the final stats box for complete game stats and team totals. VCU out rebounded the Wildcats 37-31 and the Rams forced 20 B-CU turnovers to the Rams 17 turnovers.

B-CU newcomers Aric Miller, Albert Abrahams, Antroine Williford all played in the ball game, their first NCAA Division I game - at the VCU Arena and a near capacity crowd of nearly 7,000 fans.

Bethune-Cookman University next plays Sunday at Old Dominion, 1 p.m.  The basketball team plans to bus to Washington, D.C. on Saturday to view the 'Cats vs. Howard MEAC football game in the nation's capital.