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On Monday night in front of a sell-out Coliseum crowd, top-seeded Virginia Commonwealth did the equivalent of winning the Colonial Athletic Association Championship left-handed.

The team that thrived all year on guard play and a perimeter offense defeated upset-minded George Mason Patriots 65-59 with timely defense and tenacious inside play to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Behind four points at the half and down five with 2:22 to go, sophomore guard Eric Maynor converted two straight steals into lay-ups to help the Rams (27-6) surge past the Patriots in clutch time. In fact, Maynor – voted the CAA tournament's most outstanding player – scored nine consecutive points to stretch the Rams' lead to 61-57 before the tilt became a matter of desperation fouls and free throws.

"It's indescribable," Maynor said of his performance in the final 2:22 during a post-game press conference. "I got into a zone and I was able to make a couple of big plays…I felt like somebody had to make a play, and when I made it, it relieved me."

While Mason (18-15) steered all but the game's final minutes, the Rams kept the Patriots in check behind the muscle of junior forward Wil Fameni (13 points, 8 rebounds) and senior center Calvin Roland (12 points). The two big men shot a combined 11 of 13 from the field. In fact, VCU only hit one from long range in 12 attempts.

"I thought our defense went to another level in the last eight minutes," VCU Coach Anthony Grant said. "Probably the biggest thing is that he [Maynor] sat down and he played defense tonight."

George Mason, which was playing its fourth game in as many nights including upsets of Hofstra and Old Dominion, hadn't gotten closer than 13 points in their two previous regular season losses to the Rams.

The Patriots were led by guard Dre Smith with 12 points. Juniors Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell , both part of last season's improbable Final Four run, added 10 points apiece.

"I think we showed we were capable of winning this game," GMU Coach Jim Larranaga said. "I think Eric Maynor deserves a lot of credit."

When asked whether he thought the Patriots we in line for an NIT bid, Larranaga threw the question back to the media.

"Does anyone know the answer to that?" he half-joked.

Now, while the CAA's Drexel and Old Dominion hold out hope for an at-large bid this Selection Sunday – most college hoops pundits suggest the Monarchs are on the better side of the bubble – VCU will simply wait to find out where they'll go and who they'll play.

The Rams last went to the NCAA tournament in 2004, when they were nipped by Wake Forest as a No. 13 seed.

"I'm definitely still hungry," said VCU senior guard Jesse Pellot-Rosa , who scored six points on an injured right foot. "We're not finished. We've got a lot more damage to do."

Check back with Richmond.com as we follow VCU's 2007 NCAA tournament adventure.