SAN FRANCISCO – It was much closer than it needed to be, but history was made as the University of San Francisco men's basketball held on for the 78-73 win over Utah Valley in the quarterfinals of the CBI on Monday night.  With the win, the Dons have won 20 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1981 and '82 seasons. 
 
USF (20-15) had three players finish in double figures, Chase Foster and Jordan Ratinho lead the squad with 20 points apiece. Foster got hot for the Dons at the right time, scoring 12 of his 20 points after the intermission.
 
Ratinho's 20 was bolstered by his strong shooting from 3-point range.  He finished the night 5-for-9 from distance.  The five 3-point field goals gives him 77 for the season, a new single-season record for 3-point field goals.
 
Jimbo Lull had a monster game, scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds.  The 15 points was a career-high. 
 
Utah Valley (23-11) did not go away quietly.  With the Dons leading by 22 with 9:26 in the game, the Wolverines cut the deficit to two points following a layup by Brandon Randolph.  UVU held the Dons scoreless for five minutes during that stretch. 
 
Frankie Ferrari ended the scoreless streak when he drained a 3-point field goal in front of the Dons bench.  The two sides traded buckets but the Dons were able to put the game away at the free throw line.  UVU's Kenneth Ogbe led the Wolverines with a game-high 26 points, Randolph finished with 22.
 
GAME NOTES

• The last time the Dons won 20 games in back-to-back seasons came in the 1981 and '82 seasons led by former head coach Pete Barry.
• Since the 1985-86 season, USF has won 20 games four times, twice in back-to-back seasons by second year head coach Kyle Smith. 
• Smith becomes just the fourth coach in program history to achieve that feat, joining Bob Gaillard, Dan Belluomini, and Pete Barry.
• Ratinho broke a 20-year-old record when he made his fourth 3-point field goal early in the second half.  The previous mark belonged to Ali Thomas with 75 set in 1997-98.  Ratinho entered tonight with 72.  Ratinho now has 132 3-point field goals in his career which ranks ninth all-time at USF. 
• Frankie Ferrari led the Dons with 11 assists on the night, USF as a team recorded a season-high 22 assists on the evening.  Every player but Lull tallied at least one assist.

 
NEXT TIME OUT
The Dons will return to action on Thursday evening when they host Campbell in the semifinals.  The Game will be streamed on TheW.tv with Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli with the call and is slated for a 7:00 p.m. tip.  For tickets visit Dons Ticket Central.