Richmond, VA (My Sportsbook) - Jay Gavin recorded a game-high 20 points as VCU toppled 17th-ranked Oklahoma, 82-69. Larry Sanders posted 17 points and four assists for the Rams (2-1), who spoiled former head coach and current Oklahoma head man Jeff Capel's return to Richmond. Tony Crocker had 19 points and Tiny Gallon added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the loss for the Sooners (2-1), who opened the season with wins over Mount St. Mary's and Louisiana-Monroe. VCU jumped out to a quick leads of 5-0 and 16-6, eventually extending the advantage to 27-14 with a little more than eight minutes played on a trey by Sanders. The bulge grew as much as 17 points with 4:35 to play in the half on a pair from the line by T.J. Gwynn, and a jumper from Willie Warren brought the Sooners back within 44-34 at the break. Gavin's jumper and a three-point play by Sanders pushed VCU's lead to 49-34 two minutes into the second half, and Oklahoma was powerless to mount a comeback. Sanders twice restored a 15-point advantage for the home club, first on a deuce with 13:05 to play for a 61-46 game, then on a dunk just after the midway point of the half to make it 68-53. Gallon hit two from the line to cap a 10-4 burst which brought the Sooners within 10 at 77-67 with 1:16 to play, but the Rams hit their foul shots down the stretch to emerge victorious. Game Notes Capel was head coach at VCU from 2002-06 and was an assistant there for the 2001-02 season before taking over at Oklahoma for the 2006-07 season...Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but VCU hit for 42.3 percent in the second half to just 32.3 percent for Oklahoma...Gwynn posted eight points and seven rebounds...Warren finished with eight points but six turnovers. |
