The Chronicle

Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: News
Last update: 3/16/07 at 7:43 PM EST

Media Credit: Jianghai Ho Eric Maynor's 17-foot jump shot from the top of the key with 1.8 seconds remaining won the game for VCU

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Greg Paulus fell to the floor, his head in his hands as Virginia Commonwealth's players stormed the court. Paulus and many of his fellow Blue Devils were unable to look at the celebratory scene, unable to believe the final score.

Eric Maynor's 17-foot jump shot from the top of the key with 1.8 seconds remaining culminated a furious final two minutes as No. 11 VCU (28-6) defeated sixth-seeded Duke 79-77 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at HSBC Arena in Buffalo Thursday.

The Blue Devils (22-11) squandered an 11-point lead in the second half to lose in the Tournament's first round for the first time in 11 seasons. Duke had gone a step further the last nine years, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen each time, easily the nation's longest such streak.

"This is the hardest loss I've ever had," freshman Jon Scheyer said as he fought back tears. "Obviously, it's not an easy way to lose at any point in the season, especially not in the last game."

Maynor had a virtuoso performance, particularly in the game's deciding moments. He scored six of his 22 points in the final 85 seconds, with his dramatic game-winner giving VCU its first Tournament win since 1985.

The loss was even more difficult to swallow for the Blue Devils considering they seemed to be in control after building an 11-point lead midway through the second half. But the Rams responded with an 18-6 spurt to grab a 68-67 lead-their first since the game's opening minutes.

VCU hit four-of-five three-pointers during the stretch, part of a 9-for-16 night from beyond the arc. Reserve guard Jamal Shuler hit two of his four trifectas in that run en route to 14 points for the game.

"They're a scrappy team," junior DeMarcus Nelson said. "They played extremely hard the whole way. And a team that can shoot the ball as well as they can, a 13-point lead is only a four-possession game."

From that point on, the Blue Devils and Rams went toe-to-toe, with neither team having a lead larger than two in the final 6:32.

Maynor and Paulus epitomized that battle, as the opposing point guards matched each other on both ends of the court while occasionally needing to be separated by the officials.

Continued...

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