Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- It was an uphill battle all night for USF against Bay Area rival Saint Mary's, who nearly squandered a 16-point lead over the final 6:11 of the game only to prevail 67-63 inside Memorial Gymnasium.
The loss drops USF's record to 9-13 overall and 2-7 in the West Coast Conference while Saint Mary's improves to 18-4 overall and 7-1 in the WCC, one game behind league-leading Gonzaga.
USF was led in scoring by
Cody Doolin, who broke out of a three-game scoring slump to post 16 points. De'End Parker, who played a key role in USF's late rally, finished with 12 while Tim Derksen and Avry Holmes added 10 each.
Cole Dickerson scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Jorden Page scored a game-high 19 points for Saint Mary's while Brad Waldow added 13.
The Gaels held a decisive edge on the boards, outrebounding the Dons, 44-22, including 17 off the offensive glass.
Saint Mary's scored the first six points of the game and built a 37-23 lead at intermission.
The Gaels enjoyed a 16-point lead at 57-41 with 6:11 left when things got interesting.
USF used a 10-2 run to cut the lead to eight at 59-51 with 4:04 remaining. A three-pointer by Page gave the Gaels a 62-51 with 3:33 left, but the Dons would not go quietly.
A layup by Holmes and a jumper by Doolin cut the lead to 62-55 with 1:26 remaining. After Matthew Dellavedova made one of two free throws to give Saint Mary's a 63-55 lead with :38 remaining, a pair of free throws by Parker and a three-pointer by Derksen cut the Gaels lead to 63-60 with :27 left.
Following a breakout layup by James Walker III gave Saint Mary's a 65-60 lead with :16 left, Derksen answered with a layup on the other end and completed the three-point play after he was fouled by Page, bringing the Dons to within two at 65-63.
However, Page knocked down a pair of free throws with :04 left after being fouled by Dickerson and the Gaels escaped with a 67-63 victory.
"We played with an agressiveness and less regard for our body than we have in awhile," said USF head coach
Rex Walters. "That's a physically tough team that got the better of us on the offensive glass. Our bigs need to do a better job rebounding. It's not always how many rebounds you get but how many you give up. They outrebounded us 44-22. That's a stat that is hard to overcome.
"It's still a process with these guys. We have to keep pushing, fighting and grinding."
USF will return to action on Saturday afternoon against the Pepperdine Waves in Malibu. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m. in Firestone Fieldhouse.
