Game #16
San Francisco Dons (7-8, 1-2 WCC) vs. BYU Cougars (12-4, 2-1 WCC)
Saturday,  Jan. 3, 2015 • 8:00 p.m.
Memorial Gymnasium • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: BYU 11-6
Last Meeting: BYU 77-79 OT (March 10, 2014)
Audio/Video Streaming: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: CSNBA (Glen Kuiper, Play-by-Play; Dan Belluomini, Analyst)

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF) | Complete BYU Game Notes (PDF)

The Dandy Dons

• Now 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the WCC after dropping a 57-56 decision Thursday to San Diego...have lost two straight and are 4-8 over the last 12 games after a 3-0 start.
• Were 9-6 at the 15-game mark last season...won the next two games to improve to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the WCC.
• Dropped three games to BYU last season, including an overtime thriller in the semifinals of the WCC Championships...are 1-6 against the Cougars since BYU joined the WCC in 2011-12.
• Have four wins this season by 30-points or more and have won seven games this season by an average of 26.8 points.
• Have been outrebounded in two of its first three conference games after outboarding 10 of its first 12 opponents...rank third the WCC in rebound average at 38.5 and are fourth in rebound margin (+6.6)...rank second in offensive rebounds per game (12.3).
• Three players - Kruize Pinkins (6.1), Matt Glover (6.1) and Mark Tollefsen (5.5) - are averaging at least 5.0 rebounds per game while Tim Derksen is averagaing 4.9.
• Shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, third-best in the WCC...have shot 50 percent or better in four games this season, including a season-high 64.9 effort vs. Montana...BYU ranks second in conference field goal percentage at 46.9.
• Allowed Saint Mary's to shoot 51.9 percent from the floor, the highest single-game field goal percentage turned in by an opponent this season...Dons are holding opponents to 40.4 percent shooting on the year, which is the second best mark in the WCC.
• Rank second in the WCC in three-point percentage at 39.2 percent (103-for-263)...rank seventh in three-pointers made per game at 6.9...junior Tim Derksen ranks second in the WCC in 3-point field goal percentage at .500 (24-for-48).
• Made just 8-of-16 free throws in a one-point loss to San Diego on Thursday...shooting just 57.4 (193-336) from the stripe on the season which ranks last among WCC teams and is the third lowest percentage in the nation among Division I teams.
• Employed its fifth starting lineup of the season Thursday vs. San Diego, with freshman Devin Watson getting the nod at point guard...used three starting lineups all of last season.
• Junior Mark Tollefsen has taken over the team lead in scoring with  15.3 ppg average, just ahead of Kruize Pinkins at 15.0...Tollefsen has scored in double-figures in 14 of 15 games this season and ranks as the conference's seventh leading scorer.
• Play its next three games on the road starting with Thursday night's contest at Gonzaga...road games follow at Portland (Jan. 10) and Santa Clara (Jan. 17) before Dons return home to face Pepperdine on Jan. 22.

Notables

Opening Tip
USF (7-8, 1-2 WCC) looks to snap a two-game losing streak tonight when the Dons play host to the BYU Cougars (12-4, 2-1 WCC) in an 8:00 p.m. start in Memrial Gymnasium. The Dons have dropped consecutive games to Saint Mary's (69-56) and San Diego (57-56) to fall below .500 for the first time this season. The Cougars are coming off an 81-46 victory at Santa Clara on Thursday.

Series History with BYU
BYU leads the all-time series with USF, 11-6. The Cougars won all three games against the Dons last season, sweeping the regular season series with an 83-76 victory in San Francisco and a 68-63 win in Provo. BYU also downed the Dons, 79-77 in overtime in the semifinals of the WCC Championships. USF is 1-6 vs. BYU since the Cougars joined the WCC for the 2011-12 season. The Dons lone victory came on Feb. 9 in Provo, when USF nailed 14 three-pointers in a 99-87 victory.  However, six of the last seven games have been decided by fewer than 10 points. The teams have met once in NCAA Tournament play, with the Dons scoring a 86-63 victory in a second round game played in Tucson, Ariz. in 1979.

The Matchup
Tonight's game features two of the top three shooting teams in the WCC. BYU ranks second in field goal percentage (46.9) while USF ranks third (46.8). USF is limiting opponents to just 40.4 percent shooting on the year, which is the second best mark in the WCC. The Cougars (1st; 39.9) and Dons (3rd; 38.5) are also two of the top rebounding teams in the WCC and are tied for first in offensive rebounds per game (12.3). The Cougars lead the WCC in three-pointers made per game (8.8) while the Dons are allowing opponents to shoot 35.2 perent from long distance this season.

Last Year's Games vs. BYU
In the first of three meeting with the Cougars in 2013-14, USF dropped a 83-76 decision to BYU on Jan. 16 inside Memorial Gymnasium. Cole Dickerson had 26 points and a season-high 14 rebounds to pace four Dons in double-figures. However, USF committed 16 turnovers that led to 19 BYU points and watched as the Cougars knocked down 28-of-37 free throws. A tightly-contested first half saw 10 lead changes before the Dons took a 37-34 decision into the break.  BYU was nursing a 51-50 lead with 12:28 left before going on a 12-4 run to seize control of the game. Kyle Collinsworth had 19 points to pace five Cougars in double-figures

The Dons dropped a 68-63 decision to BYU on Feb. 8 in Provo. The Dons rallied from a three-point halftime deficit to build a five-point, 52-47 lead with 10:13 left, only to see the Cougars use a 14-3 run to take a 61-55 advantage at the 4:27 mark. BYU extended its lead to seven at 67-60 before winning by the final score of 68-63. BYU outrebounded USF, 47-29 and took advantage of 20 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second chance points. Tim Derksen led USF in scoring with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor. Tyler Haws and Kyle Collinsworth paced the Cougars with 19 points each.

The teams met for a third time on March 10 at the WCC Championships in Las Vegas, with BYU scoring a 79-77 decsion in overtime. Cole Dickerson led the Dons with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. USF rallied from four, 10-point deficits in the first half to lead 37-35 at the break. The Dons held the Cougars scoreless for the last 6:13 of regulation to force overtime. However, BYU scored the first six points of OT and won the game when Avry Holmes' potential game-winning three-pointer and valiant put back effort by Tim Derksen missed their marks.

Last Time Out
USF fell to San Diego, 57-56 Thursday night in Memorial Gymnasium, dropping the Dons' record below the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Dons built a 33-28 lead at halftime, but managed to shoot just 28.6 percent in scoring 23 second half points. The Toreros took their first lead of the game at 44-43 with 12:11 remaining and led by four at 55-51 with 3:01 left. The Dons came up empty on their next five possessions, however had a chance to win the game in the final seconds before Chris Anderson stole the ball from Matt Glover, preserving the Toreros one-point victory. Mark Tollefsen led all scorers with 14 points while Matt Glover added 11 to go along with nine rebounds. No Torero player scored in double figures, including Johnny Dee, who managed just four points on the night. USF's leading scorer, Kruize Pinkins, was plagued by foul trouble and finished with just seven points and two rebounds.

The Record
At 7-8, USF is two games off its pace of last season when the Dons were 9-6 on the year at the 15-game mark. The Dons won their next two games to improve to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the WCC. USF ultimately finished with a 21-11 overall mark and tied for second in the WCC with a 13-5 conference ledger.

Fan Guide

Ticket Information
Individual game tickets for all USF home games this season are available on line at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10.
 
Parking Information
Parking is available free of charge two hours prior to tip-off until one hour after the conclusion of the game in any campus lot, with the exception of designated green parking spots and the top of Hayes-Healy garage on Golden Gate Avenue adjacent to the gymnasium.
 
The Hilltop Club Level
USF Athletics is pleased to announce the opening of The Hilltop, a new club level where fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the 2014-15 season. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of Memorial Gymnasium, The Hilltop will open one hour before tipoff and will remain accessible throughout the game. Beer, wine, soft drinks and catered food options will be available to all fans 21 years of age and older. Admission to the The Hilltop is priced at $25 per game. Season passes for all games with the exception of designated premium games may also be purchased for $250. Food and drink options are extra. The cost does not include a game ticket.