VCU Sends USC Home After 1st Round Loss

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Jamie Skeen scored 16 points and Virginia Commonwealth more than held its own inside against bigger and stronger Southern California to beat the Trojans 59-46 Wednesday night in the finale of the NCAA's inaugural "First Four" tournament games at the University of Dayton Arena.

The 11th-seeded teams traded elbows and punishing defense all night, with the Rams (24-11) pulling away down the stretch to earn the chance to face sixth-seeded Georgetown (21-10) on Friday in Chicago.

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Joey Rodriguez had eight points and five assists for VCU.

Jio Fontan had 14 points and Nikola Vucevic 11 for USC (19-15), which had just one field goal over the final 9 minutes.

Even though the Trojans started two 6-foot-10 wide-bodies inside, the Rams held a 40-31 edge in rebounding.

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