SAN FRANCISCO – For the fourth consecutive game, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team led wire-to-wire, however it wasn't easy as the Dons (7-0) needed a big push late in the second half to come away with the 89-73 win over the visiting Hampton Pirates (3-3) on Tuesday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

The Dons finished with four players in double figures and were led by Charles Minlend's 21. Minlend started hot and finished strong going, 7 for 15 from the field and 3 for 7 from distance. Joining him in double figures was Jimbo Lull and Jamaree Bouyea who had 16 each, and Khalil Shabazz who added 14. 

The Dons shot well in the first half, connecting on 52.9% of their attempts on 18-for-34 shooting, including 56.3% from 3-point range. After the intermission, the Dons hot shooting cooled to 40.0% from the floor. Fortunately, USF's defense came to the rescue, holding the Pirates well below their season average.

Hampton had two players in double figures and was led by Ben Stanley's game-high 24 points. Just behind him was Jermain Marrow with 23 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Dons jumped out to an early 11-0 lead thanks to back-to-back 3-point field goals by Charles Minlend and a step-back three from Jamaree Bouyea. Minlend completed the run with a running jumper in the paint to beat an expiring shot clock.

• After the Dons' hot start, a 15-6 run by the Pirates cut the USF lead to four, 27-23, with 7 minutes, 21 seconds to play. 10 turnovers by USF in the first half led to 15 points by Hampton, which helped keep them in the game.

• Minlend and Shabazz led the Dons with 10 at the end of the first half. USF shot well in the opening period, going 18 for 34 from the field (52.9%) and 9 for 16 (56.3%) from 3-point range. Minlend opened the contest 4 for 5 from the field and was 2 for 2 from beyond the arc.

• Out of the break, the Dons scored first, but then went scoreless over the next two minutes. During that time the Pirates went on a 6-0 run to cut the Dons' lead to three.  Midway through the second half the Dons' defense took control. A 16-5 run by the Dons, led by strong play from Bouyea, had USF up 75-60 just under 10 minutes left in regulation.

• From there, the Dons held on. The Pirates never cut the deficit to less than 10 the rest of the way.

NOTABLE NUMBERS
5: For the fifth time this season, the Dons led wire-to-wire and fourth consecutive game.
7-0: With the win, the Dons improve to 7-0 for the second consecutive season. The seven wins in Todd Golden's first seven games match William Bussienius start in the 1945-46 season.
28: The Dons' bench once again did its part – USF's reserves outscored Hamptons bench 28-8.
39:46: Minlend's 3-point field goal 14 seconds into the game means the Dons led for over 39 minutes.  In 285 minutes of action this season, the Dons have led on all but 33:14 of them.

NEXT UP
The Dons depart for the Aloha State on Wednesday morning, where they will spend Thanksgiving in Waikiki before taking on Hawaii on Friday at 9:30 p.m. PT.