Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO -- A floating, 10-foot jumper by
Avry Holmes with 0.05 seconds left lifted USF to a 64-62 victory over San Diego on Saturday in Memorial Gymnasium.
The win improves USF's record to 12-8 overall and 5-3 in the WCC while San Diego dips to 11-9 and 2-5 in league play.
There are no easy games in the WCC this season but the Dons made this one tougher than it should have been down the stretch. Leading 62-61 with 18 second remaining, USF's
Gavin Hoffmann's inbound pass from midcourt intended for
Mark Tollefsen was picked off by San Diego's Thomas Jacobs. Jacobs was fouled on the play by Tollefsen and went to the line to try to give the Toreros a one point lead with :15 remaining.
Jacobs made the first free throw to tie the game at 62, but missed the second, leaving the door open for Holmes' heroics.
After a timeout, Holmes dribbled down towards the right baseline and managed to get off a shot over the outstretched arms of Duda Sandze and Jito Kok that found nothing but the bottom of the net.
Following an official review, .05 was put back on the clock but the Toreros failed to get off a shot and the Dons came away with one of their most satisfying wins of the season, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Holmes scored nine of his team-high 15 points over the last 3:16 of the game, including four points that gave USF a lead in the closing minutes.
Kruize Pinkins scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season while
Cole Dickerson finished the game with 10 points.
Johnny Dee led three Toreros in double figures with 16 points.
USF shot 53.5 percent from the field and held a slight advantage on the boards, 30-27.
The scored was tied 13 times and there were eight lead changes in the game.
The two teams were deadlocked at 36 at the half and were never separated by more than three points after intermission.
USF will return to action next Saturday night when it hosts the Santa Clara Broncos beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. USF Athletics will retire Ollie Johnson's #32 in a special halftime ceremony.
Rex Walters' Post-Game Comments
"I'm really happy for Avry but I thought
Mark Tollefsen and
Chris Adams were fantastic, especailly defensively on (Johnny) Dee. He ended up with 16 but he had to work for everything."
"It's a team win - every single guy in that locker room 1 through 15."
"We didn't make it easy that's for sure. We have to make our free throws down the stretch and take care of the ball a little better. We got the W - we're two points better tonight and we'll take it."
"Avry was huge down and stretch. He wants the basketball in those situtations. If gets the ball to the shooter's pocket, we're suprised when he misses."
"It was a great locker room. I'll take that feeling every day and twice on Sunday."
