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Bulls' Comeback Falls Short At West Virginia

The Associated Press

USF guard Dominique Jones drives the lane against West Virginia forward Da'Sean Butler.

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: January 18, 2009

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - University of South Florida sophomore Dominique Jones' 35 points were not enough Saturday as the Bulls lost at West Virginia, 62-59.

Jones missed a deep 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have forced overtime for the Bulls (6-11, 1-4 Big East).

Jones' effort, one off his career high set this season against Iona, tied with five others as the 11th-most points by a USF player.

USF trailed by as many as 17 and was down 14 at the half. Jesus Verdejo was the only other Bull in double figures with 11, but he was 4-for-13 from the field.

The loss dropped USF to 1-14 in Big East games decided by five points or less.

Da'Sean Butler scored 27 and Alex Ruoff added 19 to lead West Virginia.

Butler scored 17 points in the first half for the Mountaineers (13-4, 2-2). He scored eight straight points during a 20-3 run as West Virginia claimed a 32-17 lead in the first half.

South Florida cut West Virginia's lead to 51-50 on a 3-pointer by Jones with 5:27 left in the second half. The Bulls kept the margin at one point down the stretch but never pulled ahead as the Mountaineers went up by five points on Alex Ruoff's free throw.

Perhaps the best opportunity for the Bulls to get over the hump came with a little more than two minutes to play. Trailing by one with 2:17 to play, South Florida had the ball and had drawn up a play coming out of a 30-second timeout by Coach Stan Heath. Before the Bulls could get into their offense, though, USF's Gus Gilchrist was called for a push-off while trying to establish possession.

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