Led by Eric Mayor’s 18 points and a strong defensive effort, VCU prevailed in its first game in the holiday tournament down in Mexico at the Cancun Challenge: VCU 67, New Mexico 55.

The Lobos (3-3) took a 32-31 lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Rams assumed control in the second. VCU limited New Mexico to 37-percent (10-of-27) shooting from the floor in the second half and out rebounded the Lobos 17-14.

The Rams also held UNM leading scorer Tony Dandridge to two points and just five field goal attempts. Dandridge came into the game averaging 14 points per game, but fouled out with 3:54 left.

Sophomore Joey Rodriguez knocked down 4-of-5 3-pointers and finished with 12 points. He also had three of VCU’s seven steals in the game. Sophomore Lance Kearse added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Rams. Fellow sophomore Larry Sanders limited to just four minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, provided eight points and six rebounds.

Phillip McDonald paced the Lobos with 14 points. New Mexico led by as many as six points in the second half before the Rams went to work. Trailing 43-37, VCU received two buckets each from Kearse, Maynor and Sanders to spark a 13-0 run that gave the Rams a 50-43 advantage with 7:49 remaining. They would not trail again and would push their lead to as many as 14 points.

“Everything started with our defense,” said VCU head coach Anthony Grant.

Next up, the Rams will (3-2) face the Commodores of Vanderbilt (4-1) at 10:30 p.m. tonight (Sunday) evening.

– Some of the information above was provided by Chris Kowalczyk at VCU