Box Score

ESTERO, Fla. -- Tim Derksen scored a career high 21 points while Kruize Pinkins added 19 to go along with a game high 12 rebounds to lead USF to a 88-73 victory over the Hawai'i Rainbows in the first round of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Germain Arena.

The win improves USF's record to 3-0 on the season and earns the Dons a date with host Florida Gulf Coast in the second round on Tuesday night. Tip time is set for 5:30 p.m. Pacific time. 

Derksen's 21 points came on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, which included three 3-pointers. He also added five rebounds in a 30 minute playing stint. Pinkins posted his second straight double-double, finishing with 19 points and 12 boards. He was just 4-for-11 from the floor but made 11-of-14 free throws on the night.

Matt Glover (15) and Mark Tollefsen (11) also reached double figures for the Dons, who are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Glover was 5-of-9 from the floor and made all three of his 3-point attempts. He also pulled down eight rebounds to go along with four assists.

The Dons shot 47.5 percent from the field, compared to Hawaii's 36.7 percent. USF also controlled the boards, 51-31.

The choppy game saw the two teams combine to shoot 65 free throws.

After leading 34-30 at intermission, USF increased its lead to 11 points at 54-43 at the 13:14 mark of the second half. Hawaii used a 15-7 run to cut the lead to 61-58 with 9:20 left, but a Derksen dunk ignited the Dons on a 11-3 run which boosted the lead back to 11 at 72-61 with 5:19 left.

USF built as much as a 19 point lead at 85-66 with 2:06 remaining before settling for the final 15-point victory, 88-73.

Rex Walters' Post-Game Comments

"I thought fatigue played a factor tonight. Hawaii had some tough travel here and I think it caught up with them late in the game. There legs got a little heavy."

"They aren't a big team but they are physical and quick. It's like having someone bite at your ankles the entire time. It took us awhile to get used to it."

"We weren't doing a very good job executing early on but then we simplified things a bit and began playing better."

"Tim is one of those kids that plays extremely hard every game and never backs down. He really stepped up and got a lot of good looks tonight."

"Mark Tollefsen was really good in the second half and Pinkins was solid all game."