Box Score
(Anchorage, AK) – San Francisco opened play in the 2011 Carrs Safeway Great Alaska Shootout with a 71-69 nail-biter against Dartmouth Wednesday night at Sullivan Arena. The Dons (5-1) won their fifth consecutive game against a determined Big Green (1-3) squad.
San Francisco plays Murray State (5-0) Friday, November 25 in the first semifinal set for a 6:30 PM (PT) tip-off. The Dons and Racers game will be broadcast live on USFDons.com via Stretch Internet.
USF has won its last four games by a combined 11 points. Dating back to last season, the Green and Gold owns a 10-1 record with in games decided by three points or less or in overtime contests.
Junior guard Michael Williams led the way with a season-high 23 points on 7-of-14 from the field with five rebounds and a pair of assists in 32 minutes. Senior guard Rashad Green had a huge night for USF as well with a season-best 18 points with five rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Angelo Caloiaro also gave the Dons a big lift with 16 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.
"It was unbelievable how out of sorts we were," USF head coach Rex Walters said. "I am disappointed with how we played tonight. Our effort was OK, but our execution was awful. Having said that, Rashad made winning plays – especially down the stretch. Angelo was great for us and made winning plays. Mikey carried us at times and played well."
Temperatures in Anchorage on Wednesday reached 13 degrees for a high and USF's field goal percentage early was equally chilly. The Dons missed their first 10 shots from the floor and did not score until Williams connected on a runner with 13:08 remaining in the opening period.
San Francisco trailed 15-6 with six minutes remaining but finally started connecting offensively as Williams scored 12 to lead the way in the opening 20 minutes. USF used a 22-8 run to take a 28-23 lead into the intermission. The Dons shot .286 (8-28) from the field, while the Big Green hit at a .364 (8-22) clip. Dartmouth made four 3-pointers in the opening half.
USF played better and shot better in the second half and opened up a 10-point lead, 56-46 with 9:17 remaining on Caloiaro jumper and held a 66-59 edge with 1:05 left on a free throw from Green. Unfazed, Dartmouth rallied for a 9-3 burst to close to within one, 69-68 with 0:26 left in regulation. USF made a pair of free throws to seal the game.
For the game, the Dons shot at a .386 (22-57) clip from the field and went .429 (6-14) from 3-point range. The Big Green shot .442 (23-52) from the field and connected on half of their 30 second-half shots. USF shot .778 (21-27) from the free throw line and committed a season-low 12 turnovers.
Now San Francisco turns its attention to Murray State, who also held on for a hard-fought 64-62 win against tournament host Alaska Anchorage in the tournament's opening game.
"If we don't play better than this, they will kick us in the dirt," Walters said. "They have 24-straight winning seasons. They have a winning culture. Our banners stop quite a ways back and they have continued to win. We have some work to do.
