Game Information
San Francisco Dons (15-13, 8-9 WCC) vs. Saint Mary's Gaels (23-4, 14-3 WCC)
Saturday,  Feb. 27, 2016 • 8:00 p.m.
War Memorial at The Sobrato Center • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: USF 99-76
Last Meeting: Dec. 21, 2015 (Saint Mary's 74-52)
Audio Stream: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: CSNCA (Glen Kuiper, Play-by-Play; Dan Belluomini, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF) | Complete Saint Mary's Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Tip
USF (15-13, 8-9 WCC) closes out the regular season on Saturday against conference co-leaders Saint Mary's (23-4, 14-3 WCC). Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on the Hilltop. The Dons are coming off a 79-70 loss at Pacific on Thursday while the Gaels posted a 75-50 win at Santa Clara.

USF at a Glance

• Now 15-13 overall and 8-9 in the WCC dropping a 79-70 decision Thursday night at Pacific...Devin Watson finished with 20 points, his 17th 20-poit outing of the season.
• Enter the final regular season game in fifth place in the WCC standings...are locked in as the fifth seed for next week's WCC Championships in Las Vegas where the Dons will face fourth-seed Pepperdine on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
• Return home to the Hilltop where the Dons are 10-6 on the season....averaging 81.7 ppg and shooting 46.4 from the field in 16 games on the homecourt this season.
• Boast a 30-18 (.625) record in February since the 2009-10 campaign...went 4-3 last February and after back-to-back 5-2 marks in 2012-13 and 2013-14.
• Have dropped 20 of the last 21 and 25 of the last 28 games to Saint Mary's dating back to the 2002-03 season...Dons last win in the series came on Feb. 20, 2014 - 73-62 on the Hilltop.
• Averaging 84.1 points per game (1430 total) over the last 17 games...rank fourth in WCC scoring at 77.5 ppg...on pace to become highest scoring team by average since 1993-94 (88.9).
• Have allowed 100 or more points four times this season for the first time since the 1989-90 campaign.
• Have played four overtime games this season, the most since playing five in 2006-07.
• Rallied from deficits of 19 (Pacific) and 15 (Portland, Santa Clara) points in three of six conference wins.
• Have trailed at halftime in 17 of its 28 games this season and are 6-11 in those contests...are being outscored 1053-954 and shooting 41.8 in the first half compared to the second when the Dons are outscoring the opponent 1177-1080 and shooting 46.8 percent from the floor after intermission.
• Sophomore point guard Devin Watson ranks third in the WCC and 30th nationally in scoring average at 20.0 ppg...he has scored in double-figures in 27 of 28 games this season including 17 games of at least 20-points...he also ranks as the seventh-highest scoring sophomore in the nation.
• Senior guard Tim Derksen ranks eighth in the WCC in scoring (16.3), eighth in rebounding (6.9) and seveth in three-point percentage (42.2)...is the the only WCC player along with Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer to rank in the top-10 in all three of those categories.
• The duo of Watson and Derksen is averaging 37.0 ppg (1038 total) and account for 47.8 percent of USF's season point total (1038 of 2171)...they are the second-highest scoring tandem by average in the WCC behind Kyle Wiltjer-Domantas Sabonis (1105; 38.1) of Gonzaga...currently rank as the eighth-highest scoring tandem in school history.
• Seniors Tim Derksen, Montray Clemons and Sean Grennan will be honored prior to Saturday's game.
• Will face Pepperdine in the quarterfinals of the WCC Basketball Championships next Friday in Las Vegas...Dons and Waves split the regular season series, with each winning on the other's homecourt.
• USF (15-13, 8-9 WCC) closes out the regular season on Saturday against conference co-leaders Saint Mary's (23-4, 14-3 WCC). Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on the Hilltop. The Dons are coming off a 79-70 loss at Pacific on Thursday while the Gaels posted a 75-50 win at Santa Clara.

The Matchup

Series History with Saint Mary's
In a series that dates back to the 1930-31 season, USF leads the all-time series with Saint Mary's, 99-76. However, the Gaels have won 20 of the last 21 and 25 of the last 28 games in the series dating back to the 2002-03 season, including a 74-52 victory in Moraga earlier this season. Prior to the Gaels recent run of success, USF won seven straight games in the series from 1998-99 to 2001-02. USF's last win in the series came on Feb. 20, 2014 in San Francisco, 73-62, which snapped the Gaels 17-game winning streak in the series. The two schools have also met five times in WCC Tournament play, with the Gaels holding a 4-1 advantage.

First Meeting With Saint Mary's
USF dropped a 74-52 decision to the Gaels in the West Coast Conference opener for both schools on Dec. 21 in McKeon Pavilion. Uche Ofoegbu led all USF scorers with 13 points, all which came in the first half, while Ronnie Boyce III came off the bench to chip in 10. USF's two leading scorers, Devin Watson and Tim Derksen, who came into the game averaging 35 points a game, combined for just 10 points on 3-of-25 shooting from the floor. The Gaels made 10-of-23 of their shots from distance and shot 50 percent from the field for the game. USF shot a season-low 28.3 percent (17-of-60) for the game. Evan Fitzner scored a game-high 20 points for Saint Mary's.

Dons' Notebook

The Record
At 15-13, USF has surpassed its win total from a year ago when the Dons finished 14-18 overall and 7-11 in the WCC. At 8-9 in the WCC, the Dons have clinched fifth place in the WCC standings and will face Pepperdine in the quarterfinals of the WCC Championships next Friday in Las Vegas. The Dons are 6-4 over their last nine games dating back to Jan. 21.

Honoring Seniors
Prior to Saturday's game against Saint Mary's, USF will honor its three seniors -- Tim Derksen, Montray Clemons and Sean Grennan.

The Home Record
USF is 10-6 at home this season and are averaging 81.7 points per game and shooting 46.4 percent from the field in 16 games on its homecourt.

Fabulous in February
USF is now 30-18 (.625) in the month of February dating back to the 2009-10 season. The Dons went 4-3 last February after posting back-to-back 5-2 marks in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

The Lineups
The quintet of Devin Watson-Ronnie Boyce-Tim Derksen-Uche Ofoegbu and Dont'e Reynolds has been intact for 13 games this season, giving the Dons four players no taller than 6-foot-4 in the starting five. USF is averaging 83.2 points per game (1082 total) in Boyce's 13 starts this season. A total of eight players have drawn starts this season with Devin Watson, Tim Derksen and Dont'e Reynolds holding their sports of all 28 games. Chase Foster (13), Nate Renfro (10), and Montray Clemons (1) have also earned starts this season.

The Comebacks
USF has erased sizeable deficits in three of its eight conference wins this season. Against Pacific, the Dons rallied from a 19-point deficit (43-24; 3:35 1st) to post a 89-76 victory over the Tigers. On New Year's Eve, USF rallied from a 15-point, 81-66 deficit to defeat Portland, 107-95. At Santa Clara, the Dons spotted the Broncos a 13-2 lead out out of the gates and trailed by as many as 15 points (26-11) before rallying for a 74-61 victory. USF has faced deficits of at least 10 points in 15 of 28 games this season, including 11 of 17 conference games

The Wins and Losses
Of USF's 15 victories, six have been by a combined total of 23 points (78-75 at Illinois-Chicago; 58-57 vs. UC Riverside; 65-61 CSUN; 96-93 vs. Coppin State; 73-65 at San Diego; 89-86 vs. Santa Clara). USF erased a 19-point deficit to defeat Pacific and rallied from 15 down to defeat both Portland and Santa Clara. The Dons never led in losses to Fresno State, UC Santa Barbara, Montana, Saint Mary's, Pepperdine or Gonzaga and led for only briefly in losses to Eastern Washington and BYU. USF squandered a 16-point lead with 8:49 left to play before falling to Gonzaga at home, 102-94 in overtime and dropped games to BYU and LMU when those two teams combined to make 44 three-pointers.  The Dons are averaging 80.9 points a game in 15 wins this season and 72.8 a game in 13 losses.

Non-Conference vs. Conference Opponents
In 11 non-conference games this season, USF averaged 73.0 points and shot 47.5 percent from the floor, including 32.2 percent from distance. In 17 WCC games, the Dons are averaging 80.5 ppg and shooting 43.5 from the floor, including 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. USF allowed just 69.5 ppg to its non-conference foes but are yielding 83.8 ppg in conference action.

The Half of It
USF has trailed at haftime in 17 of 28 games and is 6-11 in those contests. The Dons have been outscored 1053-954 while shooting 41.8 from the floor over the first 20 minutes of games this season compared to after intermission when USF is outscoring the opposition 1177-1080 and shooting 46.3 percent from the floor.

The Scoreboard
USF is averaging 83.2 points (1416 total) over its last 17 games, boosting the team's scoring average to 77.5, which ranks fourth in the WCC.  USF is on pace to post the highest scoring average since the 1993-94 season, when the Dons averaged 88.9 points a game (2488 total). USF has scored 90 or more points five times this season, including a season-high 107 vs. Portland on Dec. 31, which marked the first time the Dons had scored a 100 points in a game since they defeated the Pilots, 104-70 on Jan. 12, 2012. It was also the Dons highest scoring output since tallying a school record 129 points against Holy Names on Jan. 2, 2010.

The Century Mark
USF has scored 100 or more points twice this season (107 vs. Portland; 100 vs. Menlo) marking the first time the Dons' have accomplished that feat since 1994-95, when the Dons topped the century mark on three occasions (123 vs. Stephen F. Austin; 120 Mount St. Mary's; 106 vs. Gonzaga). USF has also allowed 100-points or four times this season (102 vs. Gonzaga; 102 at BYU; 114 vs. BYU; 100 at LMU) for the first time since the 1989-90 season, when foes also topped the century mark in four games.

Dons Defensively
USF has allowed 80 or more points 13 times this season. The 114 points scored by BYU were the most my an opponent since USF dropped a 117-73 decision at Duke on Jan. 26, 1993 and were the most scored by a WCC opponent since Jan. 26, 1991, when LMU defeated the Dons, 118-90. The Dons have allowed 78.1 ppg this season, which ranks ninth in the WCC. That figure rises to 83.8 ppg in WCC games. Opponents are shooting 43.5 percent from the field which ranks sixth in the WCC.

From the Floor
USF is shooting 40.6 percent (52-for-128) from the field over its last two games and 43.9 on the season, which ranks sixth in the WCC. The Dons have shot 50 percent of better in five games this season (50.8 vs. Rice; 55.8 vs. Montana; 55.0 vs. Coppin State; 58.3 vs. Portland; 51.4 vs. Menlo). Junior Uche Ofoegbu ranks 10th in the WCC in field goal percentage at 51.6.

Toeing the Line
The Dons have made just 58 percent (22-for-71) of its free throws over the last three games and now rank eighth in the WCC in free throw percentage at 66.7. USF converted just 19-of-37 of its free throw attempts in a nine-point loss at Pacific on thursday. Last season, USF ranked last in the WCC with a 62.9 free throw percentage, which was the lowest mark since the 1985-86 season (62.4).

From Distance
USF has made 14-of-51 (27.5) of its three-pointers over the last two games and is now shooting 35.0 from distance this season - fifth best in the WCC. The Dons rank fifth in the WCC in 3's made per game at 7.6. The 14 threes against Gonzaga were the most in a single game since the Dons drilled a school-record 17 treys against Idaho State in 2013-14. Devin Watson ranks eighth in 3's made per game (2.2) while Tim Derksen ranks seventh in three-point percentage (42.2).

Defending the Three
The Dons have allowed 10 or more three-pointers in 14 games this season, including a season-high 17 to BYU. USF ranks 10th in the WCC in three-point field goal defense at 38.3 percent.

Board Work
USF is averaging 39.7 rebounds a game which ranks third in the WCC. The Dons are fourth in rebound margin (+3.0) and lead in the WCC in offensive rebounds per game at 12.9. Three players -- Dont'e Reynolds (6.9), Tim Derksen (6.9) and Uche Ofoegbu (4.6) - are averaging at least 4.0 boards per game. Derksen's 14 rebounds vs. Pacific were the most by a USF player since Kruize Pinkins also pulled down 14 boards last season vs. Eastern Washington. Reynolds, who pulled down a career high 13 boards at Portland, ranks seventh in the WCC in rebounding while Derksen is eighth.

Assists, Turnovers and Steals
USF is averaging 12.7 turnovers a game (357 total), compared to the opponents at 11.6 per game (326). USF ranks ninth in the WCC in turnover margin (-1.11) and eighth assist-turnover ratio (1.0). USF is also averaging 5.4 steals a game to rank fifth in the WCC.

The Bench
USF's reserves are averaging 18.2 ppg this season (511 total), compared to the opponent's at 23.2 (652). The bench scored a season-high 37 points against Rice and has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season.

High Scoring Tandem
Devin Watson and senior Tim Derksen has combined to average 37.0 ppg (1038 total) points a game this season to rank as the WCC's second-highest scoring tandem by average behind Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer and Damontas Sabonis, who are averaging 38.1 per outing (1105 total). BYU's high-scoring duo of Chase Fischer and Nick Emery are averaging 33.6 ppg (1009). Either Watson or Derksen have led the team in scoring 22 of 28 games this season and have accounted for 46.8 percent (1038 of 2171) of USF's total point production. Watson has scored 20 or more points in 17 games this season, including a pair of 30-point games,  while Derksen has nine 20-point contests. The duo also ranks as the eighth-highest scoring tandem in school history in terms of total points.

WCC's Top Scoring Tandems by Average
    Players    Total    Avg.
1.    Wiltjer/Sabonis, Gonzaga    1105    38.1
2.    Watson/Derksen, USF    1038    37.0
3.    Fischer/Emery, BYU    1009    33.6
4.    Wintering/Pressley, Portland    971    32.3
5.    Murray/Davis, Pepperdine    877    31.3

USF's Top Scoring Tandems (Total Points)
    Players    Total        
1.    Dailey/Bryant, 1981-82    1227
2.    Dailey/Hegwood, 1980-81    1176    
3.    Cartwright/Jemison, 1978-79    1162
4.    Cartwright/Boynes, 1976-77    1132
5.    Cox/Wiggins, Jr., 2004-05    1119
6.    Lowhorn/Quezada, 2007-08    1066
7.    Boynes/Cartwright, 1977-78    1060
8.    Watson/Derksen, 2015-16    1038
9.    Smith/Restani, 1973-75    1032
10.    Johnson/Ellis, 1964-65    1025

Watson Ranks 30th Nationally in Scoring
Sophomore point guard Devin Watson is averaging 20.0 points a game, which ranks third in the WCC and 30th nationally among all Division I players. He is the seventh-highest scoring sophomore in the nation. The last USF player to win a conference scoring title was Dior Lowhorn who averaged 20.1 pgg in 2008-09. Watson has been in double-figures in 27 of 28 games this season, including 17 games of at least 20 points (24 at Fresno State; 27 vs. UC Riverside; 25 vs. Eastern Washington; 31 vs. Coppin State; 23 vs. Pacific; 22 vs. Portland; 33 vs. Gonzaga; 25 at BYU; 20 LMU; 21 vs. Pepperdine; 22 at Santa Clara; 20 vs. Menlo; 24 vs. Santa Clara; 29 vs. BYU; 20 at Pepperdine; 22 at Pepperdine; 20 at Pacific).

Sharing the Wealth
The Dons are 10-3 this season when at least four players score in double figures, with the only losses coming against Gonzaga, BYU and Pacific.

No Rest for the Weary
Devin Watson (4th; 34.7) and Tim Derksen (9th; 32.3) both rank in the top-10 among all WCC players in minutes played. Derksen has logged 3,281 minutes over his career, which ranks sixth on USF's all-time career list and needs 30 more minutes to move into fifth all-time.

Derksen 14th on USF's All-Time Scoring List
With 1,387 career points, senior Tim Derksen ranks 14th on USF's all-time scoring list and needs 28 more point to tie Pete Cross (1967-70) for 13th place. Here's a look at where Derksen ranks on USF's all-time scoring list...

USF's Career Scoring Leaders
13.    Pete Cross (1967-70)    1,415
14.    Mark McCathrion (1985-89)    1,376
15.    Tim Derksen (2012-Present)    1,375

Derksen on USF's 3-Point Charts
Tim Derksen is shooting 42.2 percent (43-for-102) from distance this season, which ranks fifth in the WCC. Derksen is shooting 40.2 percent (140-for-348) from long distance for his career, which ranks sixth on USF's all-time career list. Shawn Sykes (1988-90) is USF's all-time leader in 3-point percentage at 44.4 (98-for-218).

USF's Career Three-Point Percentage Leaders
1.    Shawn Sykes (1988-90)    98-218    .444
2.    Danny Cavic (2005-08)    130-295    .440
3,    Avry Holmes (2012-14)    98-223    .439
4.    Kevin Weeks (1990-92)    60-142    .423
5.    Joel DeBortoli (1987-90)    60-142    .423
6.    Tim Derksen (2012-    140-348    .402
7.    Gerald Walker (1992-96)    142-359    .395
8.    Shamell Stallworth (1999    153-389    .393
9.    Darrell Tucker (1999-03)    116-301    .385
10.    Tim Owens (1990-92)    65-170    .382

Rare Combination
Tim Derksen and Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer the only two players in the WCC to rank in the top-10 in scoring, rebounding and three-point percentage. Derksen ranks eighth in both in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (6.9) and is seventh in 3-point percentage (42.9). Wiltjer ranks first in scoring (20.8), t-ninth in rebounding (6.4) and is 10th in 3-point percentage (41.3).

Dons in Overtime
USF is 2-2 in overtime games this season, defeating Coppin State (96-93) and Santa Clara (89-86) and falling to Gonzaga, 102-94 and Loyola Marymount, 100-87. The four overtime games are the most USF has played in a season since the 2006-07 season, when the Dons played five extra period games. The Dons are now 5-5 in its last 10 overtime games and 14-8 in overtime games under head coach Rex Walters.

Last Time Out 

USF's six-game winning streak against Pacific came to an end Tuesday night at the Spanos Center where the Tigers downed the Dons, 79-70 before a crowd of 2,381. USF held a 68-67 lead with 4:09 remaining but was outscored 12-2 down the stretch. Four Dons scored in double figures, led by Devin Watson's team-high 20 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Uche Ofoegbu added 16, Chase Foster matched a career high with 13 and Tim Derksen chipped in with 12. Eric Thompson made 7-of-8 shots from the floor and scored 16 points to lead three Tigers in double figures. The Dons shot just 40 percent from the game and were just 19-of-37 from the foul line in absorbing a nine-point road loss. The Tigers shot 51 percent from the floor, including 56 percent in the second half. Pacific led 36-29 at halftime but USF outscored the Tigers 10-2 coming out of intermission to cut the lead to 40-39. The Dons took their first lead of the game at 41-40 on a pair of Watson free throws at the 16:35 mark of the second half. A pair of Foster free throws with 4:09 left gave the Dons a 68-67 lead with 4:07 remaining, but the Tigers then went on a 12-0 run keyed by three-pointers by Alec Kobre and Ray Bowles to take a 79-68 lead with :34 left. Pacific finished off the Dons at the foul line to earn their eighth win of the season.The Dons went without a field goal for the final 5:41 of the game.


Game Day Experience

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
Fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the season in the Hilltop Club Level. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of War Memorial at The Sobrato Center, The Hilltop Club Level 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.