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Jones Breaks Out Of Slump To Lead Bulls

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune Correspondent

Published: December 28, 2008

TAMPA - In the midst of a disappointing start to the University of South Florida men's basketball season, the Bulls made sure they ended the non-conference portion of their schedule on a positive note.

Sophomore guard Dominique Jones, who had been in a horrendous scoring slump, scored a career-high 36 points to lead USF to a 68-55 win against Iona at the Sun Dome on Saturday.

"It felt good out there. I felt like my old self," Jones said. "I'm just trying to get my confidence back, because I know my team needs me.

"It was real frustrating being in a slump, but Coach Stan Heath told me that good players get themselves out of it. So that's what I'm doing, and I'm off to a good start."

Jones' 36 points tied for fifth-most in school history for a single game.

"Dominique had a phenomenal game," Heath said. "I haven't seen many games like that in my career up close sitting on the bench. He just had a hot hand."

The crowd of 1,615 saw Jones go 12-for-16 from the floor, including 7-for-9 from 3-point range.

USF's only other viable scoring option was senior guard Jesus Verdejo, who tallied 14. Jones and Verdejo accounted for 74 percent of the Bulls' points.

"I'm concerned," Heath said of USF's lack of scoring options. "We've got to become more versatile. I think it's important somebody on the inside gives us a little bit."

USF shot 47.9 percent from the floor and hit 50 percent (10-for-20) of its 3-point shots.

The teams remained close until the Bulls slowly started to pull away late in the game. USF used a 19-7 run to turn a 44-43 deficit with 11:07 remaining into a 62-51 advantage at the 4:32 mark.

Despite the win, the Bulls' 5-7 record in nonconference games is their worst since going 5-8 during the 1988-89 season.

"We've been reeling a little bit," Heath said. "And to get back on track, I was really happy for our guys. I know it hasn't been easy for our players. But I thought Saturday we were much better as a team."

USF opens Big East play Friday against Syracuse.

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