Post-Game Interviews and HighlightsSAN FRANCISCO – USF nailed a season-high 13 three-pointers and roared back from a 19-point first half deficit to defeat Pacific 89-76 Wednesday night in War Memorial at The Sobrato Center.
The win improves the Dons record to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the WCC while the Tigers fall to 2-9 and 1-1 in conference play.
Four Dons scored in double figures, led by sophomore
Devin Watson, who made all five of his three-point attempts en route to a game-high 23 points.
Ronnie Boyce III made his first career start and finished with a career high 20 points.
Tim Derksen recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points to go along with 14 rebounds while
Uche Ofoegbu reached double figures for the fourth straight game, finishing with 14 points.
Watson, Boyce and Ofoegbu combined to make 11 of the Dons three-pointers, while sophomore
Chase Foster added two of his own.
D.J. Usery led four Tigers in double figures with 16 points.
Trailing 68-66 with 8:14 remaining, the Dons outscored Pacific 23-8 down the stretch to defeat the Tigers for the sixth consecutive time dating back to the 2013-14 season.
Pacific had the upper hand early on, as the Tigers opened as much as a 19-point lead at 43-24 after Ray Bowles knocked down the Tigers eighth 3-pointer of the first half.
However, USF outscored the Tigers 12-2 over the last 3:35 of the half to cut the Tiger lead to single digits at the break at 45-36. Three-pointers by Watson and Foster keyed the run.
Watson drained a 3-pointer on the Dons first possession of the second half to ignite a 6-0 USF run which cut the Tiger lead to 45-43.
It wasn't until the 9:27 mark of the second half that USF was able to take its first lead of the game, as Watson canned another 3-pointer to give the Dons a 60-59 advantage. Boyce and Watson nailed 3's on the Dons next two possessions, but Pacific still held a 68-66 lead with 7:08 remaining.
A 3-pointer by Ofoegbu at the 6:47 mark gave USF a 69-68 lead and ignited the decisive 23-8 run that earned the Dons their first conference win of the season.
As much as the Dons found their shooting touch in the second half, USF also got in sync defensively, limiting the Tigers to just 31 points on 34.8 percent shooting from the floor. After making eight 3's in the first half, Pacific was held to just one trey in the second period.
"Our guys had a much better feel for what they were going to do in the second half," said USF head coach
Rex Walters. "It took us awhile to get in sync, especially defensively. In the second half, we set screens, shared the basketball and really shot well. That said, we need to take it up another level."
As every game provides a learning experience for one of the youngest teams on the Hilltop in recent years, the Dons may have seen a light bulb go on in the second half, as USF played with efficiency and confidence on both ends of the floor.
"With 11 new faces, we're still figuring out our team," said Walters. "You can't just put something out there and think that's what we are going to be. We have to make constant adjustments and need to continue to develop some of our younger guys."
Walters has been waiting not too patiently for the emergence of a third and fourth scorer to carry some of the team's scoring load, which has been shouldered for the most part by Watson and Derksen for the majority of the season. He inserted Boyce into the starting lineup and the junior responded with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.
"I'm so happy for him," said Walters. "He's gone through some tough times defensively and adjusting to the speed and physicality of the Division I game. There's no doubt he can score the basketball and he did that very well tonight. He can be a weapon."
Ofoegbu reached double figures for the fourth straight game, finishing with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds and is playing with a newfound confidence.
"The discipline person is really the free person. He understands what we are trying to do defensively and offensively and that has really freed him up to be who he can be. When I first saw him he reminded me of Mitch Richmond. He had that same body type and athleticism. If he gets you on his hip, it's over."
The Dons will return to action on New Year's Eve to host the Portland Pilots beginning at 5:00 p.m. on the Hilltop.
