Game Highlights and Post Game Comments

SAN FRANCISCO -- USF can feel a little better about itself after Thursday night's 77-40 victory over Portland State which snapped the Dons' two-game losing streak.

Kruize Pinkins and Mark Tollefsen each scored 23 points while Tim Derksen added 10 as the Dons posted their third victory of the season of 30 points or more. Tollefsen also added a game-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Corey Hilliard made his first career start as a Don at the point but did not score in 13 minutes of action. Freshman Devin Watson came off the bench to score eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor in a 19 minute playing stint. Matt Glover finished with three points but added six rebounds and four assists in his 23 minutes of action.

DaShaun Wiggins scored 18 points to pace the Vikings (5-4).

The Dons (6-5) shot 48.3 percent from the field while limiting the Vikings to just 20 percent shooting. USF also won the battle of the boards, 44-32. USF also had 19 assists against just six turnovers.

USF led by just four points at 15-11 with 9:44 left in the first half before closing with a 31-11 run to take a 46-22 lead at intermission.

Tollefsen had 14 of his 23 points before the break while Pinkins had 13.

The Vikings made just 3-of-28 (10.0%) of their field goals in the second half and managed to score just six points over the first 12:26 of the period and fell behind by 44 points at 72-28. A three-pointer by freshman Chase Foster with 6:50 left gave the Dons their largest lead of the game at 75-30.

All 17 players on the USF roster saw action this evening.

USF will close out its non-conference schedule on Sunday when the Dons meet Cleveland State. Tip-off is schedule for 10:00 a.m. Pacific and the game will be available on-line on ESPN3.

Rex Walters' Post-Game Comments

"I thought we did a much better job on the boards in terms of our physicality and ability to block out. It was good win. We went through a period of darkness so it was good to get this one. They (Portland State) was a little banged up and playing without two starters who beetween them are worth 22-25 points. We're not 37 points better then they are on any other night."

"The biggest thing for us tonight was our commitment to finding the open man. Our efficiency in passing the basketball was really good, especially in the first half."

"Both freshmen guards (Devin Watson and Frankie Ferrari) got us into our offense and did a good job in getting us organized."

"It's tough to say where we are. Cleveland State will be a heck of a test on the road. We felt very fortunate to have walked away from Cleveland State with a win at home."