NEWS » t skilled in those particular areas," he added. "Dennis is

Richmond, VA (SportsNetwork. Scott Oberg Jersey .com) - Justin Andersons status heading into Saturdays game was questionable. He appeared fine on the court, however, and his performance spearheaded seventh-ranked Virginias 74-57 win over VCU. Anderson, who sprained his left ankle in Wednesdays win over No. 21 Maryland, missed the two days of practice leading up to the game, then scored 21 points with eight rebounds to lead the Cavs. Anthony Gill supplied 18 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 15 for Virginia (9-0), which has won 11 of its 13 all-time meetings with the Rams. Treveon Graham did all he could late for VCU (5-3), but his team-high 17 points was not enough to slow down Anderson and company. Melvin Johnson was the only other Ram in double figures with 15 points. Our fans were great,said VCU head coach Shaka Smart. It was a great atmosphere. This is the type of college basketball game that guys want to play in. Graham gave VCUs sputtering offense a jolt with three straight 3-pointers to help trim its deficit to 59-55 with 6:58 remaining. London Perrantes quelled Grahams little surge with a tough driving layup before Evan Nolte knocked down his first basket of the day, a deep three, as part of 15 straight for the visitors. Anderson also hit a 3-pointer during the run and Brogdon capped it with a trey from the top of the key as the Cavs won it going away. Jordan Burgess two free throws ended a drought of 5:51 for the Rams to account for the final margin. Virginia did a nice job in the first half in breaking VCUs press. Because of that, coupled with stingy defense of its own, it built a 10-point lead at the break. Johnson cut the Rams deficit to 25-23 with over seven minutes remaining in the half, but the Cavs defense proved to be too much for the hosts to close the frame. Anderson followed Johnsons basket with a layup that jump-started a 13-5 run over the final 6:44. Virginia shot 64 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and limited VCU to 35 percent shooting, taking a 38-28 lead at the break. Game Notes VCU took a 59-56 win over the Cavs last season in Charlottesville ... Gill and Mike Tobey each pulled down eight rebounds for Virginia ... Perrantes dished out nine assists in the win ... Virginia shot 28-of-41 for the game, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc ... The Rams were held to 23-of-60 shooting and made just seven of their 24 attempts from deep ... VCU forced 16 turnovers. Jesus Tinoco Jersey . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. Neifi Perez Jersey . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/634t-antonio-senzatela-jersey-rockies.html .cas NHL Play of the Year showdown continues today with a man whos spent most of his career on highlight reels and a goalie actually "reaching back" for a save.PYONGYANG, North Korea -- Former NBA star Charles D. Smith says he feels remorse for coming to Pyongyang with Dennis Rodman for a game on the North Korean leaders birthday because the event has been dwarfed by politics and tainted by Rodmans own comments. Smith and other former NBA players are scheduled to play with Rodman against a team of North Koreans on Wednesday that organizers say leader Kim Jong Un is expected to attend. Many of the players on Tuesday privately expressed second thoughts about going ahead because of an outpouring of criticism back home in the United States. Smith, who played for the New York Knicks, said the North Korea trip has been dwarfed by politics and Rodmans frequent boasts about his close friendship with Kim. "What we are doing is positive, but it is getting dwarfed by the other circumstances around it," Smith told The Associated Press. "Apparently our message is not being conveyed properly due to the circumstances that are much bigger than us, and I think that has to do with politics and government." Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on Monday with seven former NBA players and four streetballers for the game on Kims birthday, believed to be his 31st. Along with Smith, the squad features ex-All Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson and Vin Baker. The game would be another milestone in Rodmans surprising relationship with basketball fan Kim, who rarely meets with outsiders and is possibly the worlds most mysterious leader. Rodman has called the game a "birthday present" for Kim but says he has received death threats for his repeated visits to this country and for calling Kim a "friend for life." "The way some of the statements and things that Dennis has said has tainted our efforts," Smith said. "Dennis is a great guy, but how he articulates what goes on -- he gets emotional and he says things that hell apologize for later." NBA Commissioner David Stern has distanced his organization from Rodmans squad. "The NBA is not involved withh Mr. Rockies Jerseys China. Rodmans North Korea trip and would not participate or support such a venture without the approval of the U.S. State Department," he said in a statement. "Although sports in many instances can be helpful in bridging cultural divides, this is not one of them." Rodman is the highest-profile American to meet Kim since the leader inherited power after his father, Kim Jong Il, died in late 2011. He travelled to the North for the first time last February and came back just before Christmas to hold tryouts for the North Korean basketball team, though he did not meet with Kim then. The plan to hold the game has been criticized because of the Norths human rights record, its development of nuclear weapons and its threats to use them if a conflict breaks out with Washington or Seoul. Rodman, in particular, has been slammed for not trying to use his influence with Kim to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, an American missionary with health problems who is being held in North Korea on charges of "anti-state" crimes. Asked in a CNN satellite interview Tuesday whether he would raise the issue of Bae, Rodman yelled in response, "I dont give a rats ass what the hell you think. ... One day this door is going to open because these 10 guys here." Smith placed his arm around Rodmans shoulder and a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm Rodman down. "I feel bad for Dennis, I feel bad for the players," Smith said afterward, adding that when he played for the United States in the 1988 Olympics he felt elation. "I felt huge, I felt on top of the world. But I feel the reverse now," he said. "I feel a lot of remorse for the guys because we are doing something positive, but its a lot bigger than us. We are not naive, we understand why things are being portrayed the way they are. We cant do anything about that, if we could we would. "Were not skilled in those particular areas," he added. "Dennis is definitely not skilled in those particular areas." ' ' '