JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 2, 2013) – It was a record-setting night inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center. Unfortunately for the home standing ETSU Buccaneers, it was visiting VCU that was rewriting history.

On a night when ETSU athletics unveiled a “new look” Dome with an overhead lighting system and refurbished championship banners, VCU guard Troy Daniels shot the lights out with an Atlantic 10 Conference record 11 three pointers on his way to a career high 33 points, leading the Rams past ETSU 109-58 Wednesday night in men’s non-conference basketball action.

The Rams’ 109 points was the highest offensive total ever by an ETSU opponent inside the Dome, and it was the first time since the 2007 season that the Bucs have suffered a loss of 50 points or more.

“That was just a good old fashioned tail-whipping,” said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow, whose team dropped to 2-11 on the year and has now lost eight straight games. “It was pretty obvious quickly who the best team was out there. VCU is really good, maybe Final Four caliber. We’ve played a lot of good teams this year, and Arizona might be able to beat them on a neutral court. They are that good.”

Daniels – who also matched the Dome record for 3-pointers in a game which was originally set by Belmont’s Josh Goodwin during the 2005-06 season – was joined in double figures by teammates Treveon Graham with 19 points, Juvonte Reddic with 14, and Melvin Johnson with 10.

The Bucs got a team-high 14 points from freshman forward Lester Wilson (Knoxville), as well as 11 points each from sophomores John Walton (Memphis) and Rashawn Rembert (Tampa, Fla.) in the losing effort.

Trailing 19-10 midway through the first half, ETSU looked on as VCU (11-3) built a lead of 20 points at 51-31 by halftime. In the second half, it was an early 8-0 run and a 22-3 burst later on that ultimately led to the final 51-point margin.

VCU dominated statistically, out-rebounding the Bucs 52-23 and forcing 24 ETSU turnovers on 14 steals, while shooting 55 percent from the floor and 47 percent from 3-point range. In the paint, the Rams owned a 36-12 advantage, and outscored the Bucs 33-12 off turnovers.

The only good news for the Bucs on this night was the fact they have finally concluded non-conference play for the season, and will open Atlantic Sun Conference action this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a road trip to Lipscomb. For more on ETSU men’s basketball throughout the 2012-13 season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s hoops link.