PORTLAND – The University of San Francisco men's basketball team needed a little extra time. But in the end they got the result they were looking for, leaving the Chiles Center with a 68-63 win.  Frankie Ferrari was the catalyst, finishing with a game-high 20 points.
 
USF (20-6, 8-4 WCC) shot 45 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range.  In overtime however, the Dons couldn't miss.  USF was 6-for-8 overall and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the extra period – two of those coming from Charles Minlend who had 10 of his 15 after the intermission.
 
However, it was Ferrari who was nails.  The Dons' senior was 7-for-13 from the field and 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. Ferrari had an opportunity to end the game in regulation when his three at the buzzer rimmed out.  With 18 seconds left in overtime he got redemption, hitting a triple at the top of the key to put the Dons up five.
 
Jimbo Lull joined Ferrari and Minlend in double figures, he had 14.  Jordan Ratinho finished with nine, all of them coming late in the contest.  With 3:26 in overtime Ratinho broke the tie for good with a layup in the paint giving USF a 60-58 lead.
 
In the early going, the Dons struggled to get separation despite six early turnovers and the Pilots opening the game 3-for-10 from the field. Part of the problem was the Dons opened the game 1-for-10 from 3-point range in the early going. Ferrari got hot from beyond the arc sinking back-to-back triples late in the first half, but once again the Pilots responded and the two sides went into the locker room tied at 24.
 
Out of the intermission, the Dons scored six quick points.  Ferrari found the bottom of the net from 3-point range in front of the USF bench to start the scoring, Lull followed that up with a dunk in traffic and converted the free throw for a traditional 3-point play.  But USF went cold from the field and was held scoreless over the next two minutes which allowed Portland to remain in the contest.
 
With under 15 minutes to play, Marcus Shaver Jr. hit the fifth 3-point field goal of the game for the Pilots.  After getting a stop, Portland got a quick transition layup to take a five point lead thanks in part to an 11-0 run.  The back and forth play between the two teams continued late into the game.  Following Ferrari's miss from beyond the arc, the Pilots were fouled on a loose ball and hit both free throws to tie the game 53.
 
Portland had three players in double figures and was led by Marcus Shaver Jr who had 15.  Joining him in double figures was JoJo Walker with 11 and Tahirou Diabate with 10. 
 
GAME NOTES

• With the win, the Dons earned their 20^th of the season, doing it in their 26^th game of the year.  That is the fastest to 20 wins since the 1981-82 team which did it in their 24^th game.  The fastest ever is tied with the 1955-56 team which did it in 20 games, that was matched by the 1976-77 team which also opened the year 20-0.  
• This was the first overtime game at the Chiles Center for USF since Dec. 28, 2013.  In that game the Dons came away with an 87-81 win. Five Dons scored in double figures in that game and was led by Mark Tollefsen's team-high 22 points.
• This is just the third time the Dons have gone into overtime in the Kyle Smith Era.  Last year USF was 1-1 in overtime games.  The last coming on Feb. 10, 2018 at BYU with the Cougars winning 75-73. 
• Since 1949-50 the Dons are 30-20 in contests that go into overtime.  On the road, they are 11-6. The last road overtime win came on Jan. 9, 2014 when USF defeating Pacific 81-72.
• The 68 points scored in an overtime win are the fourth fewest in an overtime win in USF history.  The fewest points USF scored in an overtime win came on Dec. 12, 2012 when the Dons defeated Montana 50-48.
• With his six made 3-point field goals, Frankie Ferrari passed Shamell Stallworth for sixth all-time in USF history.  Ferrari now has 155 3-point field goals which trails No. 5 Michael Williams (2009-12) by one.
• With the win USF improves to 14-22 when scoring less than 70 in the Kyle Smith era.

 
NEXT UP
The Dons will stay on the road for a showdown with BYU next Thursday. The game between USF and Cougars is slated for a 6:00 p.m. PST tip.