Mason Scores Nine Points As USA Loses Close Game To China

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Aug. 30, 2001

BEIJING, China – University of Virginia guard Roger Mason, Jr., scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds as the USA team lost to China 83-82 on Thursday (Aug. 30) in the semifinals at the World University Games.

China is now 6-0 and will play in the gold medal game on Friday (Aug. 31). The USA drops to 6-1 and will play in the bronze medal game. The loss also broke the USA’s 46-game winning streak at the World University Games.

Mason, who is from Silver Spring, Md., has started all seven games for the USA team. He made three of 17 shots from the field, including three of nine three-point attempts, against China. He also had two steals, one assist and two turnovers in 33 minutes of action.

Mason will be a junior at Virginia this fall.

The USA trailed 81-70 with a little under four minutes left in the game before mounting a rally that fell just short. Three three-point baskets by Juan Dixon (Maryland) and one by Mason enabled the USA team to outscore China 12-2 in the closing minutes of the game.

“Obviously everyone is very disappointed,” Mason said. “We played hard in Denver for six days before we came to China, we’ve gelled as a team and our expectations were very high. Everybody is very disappointed right now.”

Dixon scored 26 points to lead the USA team in scoring, while Lonny Baxter (Maryland) added 12 points and Melvin Ely (Fresno State) 10. Ely led the team with eight rebounds.

Zhang Jinsong scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures for China.