box score
12-21-00
CAROLINA, P.R. ˆ Freshman Domonic Jones (Chesterfield, Va./Manchester) scored a career-high 23 points to lead five Virginia Commonwealth players in double figures, but the Rams were unable to overcome a disadvantage at the free-throw line in a 94-88 loss to Southern Methodist in the San Juan Shootout semifinals Thursday afternoon.

The Mustangs converted 37 of 46 (80.4%) of their foul shots for the game as SMU earned its fourth straight win and improved to 8-1 on the season. VCU (7-4) made 34 field goals and shot a solid 48.6 percent from the field, but the Rams were whistled for 33 fouls and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end despite season-high scoring outputs from seniors LaMar Taylor (Richmond, Va./John Marshall) and Scott Lilly (Charlotte, N.C./Independence). Taylor connected on three-of-seven three-point attempts and finished with 14 points and a team-best six assists, and Lilly added 12 points while filling in for injured senior Bo Jones (Richmond, Va./Huguenot) in the starting lineup.

VCU built a 32-21 lead with seven minutes left in the first half on the strength of Jones and sophomore Willie Taylor (Smyrna, Tenn./LaVergne), who scored all 10 of his points before the break. The Mustangs countered with a 15-4 run over the next two minutes to tie the game at 36-36 and took a 47-44 advantage into intermission. SMU extended its margin to 63-56 with 13 minutes remaining on a layup from senior Jeryl Sasser, but the Rams regrouped and regained the lead when Jones hit a jumper to put VCU up 66-65 with 9:19 left to play. A three-point basket by sophomore Konstantin Nesterov (St. Petersburg, Russia/St. Petersburg Univ.) with 6:39 on the clock put the Rams up 75-71, but the Mustangs put together a 15-5 spurt to take an 86-80 lead heading into the last two minutes. A LaMar Taylor three-pointer in the final minute pulled VCU to within three points (88-85), but SMU preserved the win on a three-point play from DeWayne Floyd and some clutch free-throw shooting in the closing seconds.

''We played hard enough to win, but we didn‚t execute well-enough in our offensive opportunities,‰ said Rams‚ head coach Mack McCarthy after the game. ''(SMU) did a nice job defensively of taking advantage of their size differences in several spots. We‚re close to becoming a real good team, we‚re just not there quite yet.''

Sasser led the Mustangs with 23 points and four assists, while sophomore Quinton Ross contributed 21 points in the win.

VCU will play its final game of the San Juan Shootout tomorrow at 3:15 eastern time. The Rams will meet either Kent State or Nebraska in the tournament's third place game, which will be broadcast live on WLEE (990 AM) and WHAP (1340 AM) radio, as well as via the internet at www.vcu.edu/vcurams.