UCLA Ends Up In 4th Place In NIT Tip-Off After Loss TO VCU

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jamie Skeen had 23 points and nine rebounds and Virginia Commonwealth held off a late rally by UCLA for an 89-85 victory on Friday in the third-place game of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

The Rams (4-1) led 69-58 with 7:08 to play on a layup by Rob Brandenburg. Tyler Honeycutt had seven points in a 12-4 run by UCLA (3-2) that got the Bruins within 73-70 with 4:11 left.

UCLA got within one point twice, the second time at 80-79 on a 3-pointer by Malcolm Lee with 1:48 to go. Skeen scored off a scramble in the lane and Brandon Rozzell followed a UCLA turnover with a breakaway dunk to give the Rams an 84-79 lead with 1:03 left.

Lazeric Jones scored on a drive with 14.3 seconds left to get the Bruins within 87-85.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)