Box Score
(San Francisco) – San Francisco basketball battled, but could not find answers in a season-opening 73-65 loss to North Dakota State Friday night in game one of the 2011 Hilltop Challenge at War Memorial Gym. The Dons (0-1) struggled maintaining possession of the basketball and at the free throw line against the Bison (1-0).
San Francisco got a strong effort from junior forward Perris Blackwell, who tallied a career-high with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. Senior forward Angelo Caloiaro added 11 points and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Cody Doolin chipped in 10 points with a team-high eight boards.
USF took a 54-53 lead on a Blackwell free throw with 5:38 remaining, but NDSU went on a 20-9 run to close out the contest.
Both teams shot well from the floor. The Bison shot .491 (27-55) from the floor, while the Dons shot .455 (25-55). San Francisco struggled mightily at the charity stripe, connecting on just 11-of-20 (.550) and committed 21 turnovers. NDSU shot .667 (14-21) and had 18 miscues.
In the second game of the Hilltop Challenge, Louisiana (1-0) rolled past Northern Arizona (0-1) 83-66.
San Francisco returns to action in the Hilltop Challenge when it hosts Northern Arizona at 6:00 PM, followed by Louisiana vs. North Dakota State at approximately 8:30 PM
