Box Score
LAS VEGAS -- If it's any consolation, USF has good reason to believe its season did not come to an end after dropping a 79-77 overtime decision to BYU in the semifinals of the WCC Basketball Championships in Las Vegas.
While the Dons lost an opportunity to play for a chance to earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, USF should hear good news on Selection Sunday as to its postseason fate. The National Invitation Tournanment, College Basketball Insider and College Invitational Tournament should provide opportunities for the Dons to extend their season.
The semifinal game between two teams that tied for second in the WCC standings lived up to its billing - and then some. At the end, the Cougars watched a potential game-winning three-pointer from the right corner by
Avry Holmes bounce off the rim, sending BYU into its first WCC Championship game appearance on Tuesday against top-seeded Gonzaga.
BYU took advantage of USF's nerves and poor shooting and scored the first eight points of the game. The Cougars enjoyed four, 10-point leads in the first half, the last at 27-17 with 8:06 left.Â
However, the Dons outscored BYU 11-1 and took its first lead of the game when
Cole Dickerson hit a three-pointer that gave USF a 31-29 lead with 3:41 left before the half. The Dons took a 37-35 lead into intermission after Holmes drained a 3 with :44 left.
The two teams were never separated by more than four points over the first 10 minutes of the second half.Â
Trailing 64-56, the Dons held the Cougars scoreless for the final 6:13 of regulation, enabling
Mark Tollefsen to tie the game with a three-pointer with 3:21 left. USF had three possessions in which to take the lead, but the Cougars were equally up to the task on the defensive end of the floor.
The game went into overtime when Kyle Collinsworth misfired on a contested jumper with :02 remaining.
BYU scored the first six points of the overtime period and took a 70-64 lead with 3:14 remaining.
The Cougar lead was still six at 72-66 with 2:39 left when the Dons went to work. A layup by
Kruize Pinkins and a pair of free throws by
Matt Glover cut the lead down to tw at 72-70 with 1:08 left.
After a Matt Carlino jumper put the Cougars back up by four at 74-70, Glover answered with a three-pointer to cut the lead down to one with :32 left.
BYU left the door slightly open for the Dons when Anson Winder made one of two free throws with :08 remaining to give the Cougars a 79-77 lead.
The Dons managed to get the ball into the hands of the player who has developed a knack for hitting big shots in crucial situations. However, Holmes could not save the Dons on this night, despite getting a decent look on a potential game winning three from the right corner followed by a valiant effort for a follow tip-in by
Tim Derksen.
Cole Dickerson led all USF scorers with 20 points. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season.
Glover scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor and a solid 5-for-7 from the line before fouling out in overtime.
Derksen finished with 11 while Holmes added 10.
BYU was paced by WCC Player of the Year Tyler Haws' 24 points, 14 of which came from the foul line.
On the night, the Cougars knocked down 24-of-28 of their free throw attempts and outrebounded USF, 45-35.
The Dons finished the game shooting 42.4 percent from the field compared to BYU which finished at 41.9 percent.
Rex Walters Post-Game Comments
"We fought hard, no doubt. I thought Avry had a great look. It would have been a luck shot, but I'll take a luck shot in that situation. He loves those moments and we put the ball in his hands with no regret.."
"I'm proud of our effort but by no means satisfied. Defensively I thought we did some good things. I guess we just fouled them too much."
"We were playing fast in the beginning and weren't necessarily focused. We were rushed but Cole was a stablizer for us early."
"You have to take steps forward as a program. We haven't been in this environment in two years."
