SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – A 3-point field goal by
Julian Rishwain just before the buzzer at the end of the first half was a sign of big things to come, as the University of San Francisco men's basketball team raced past host Cal Poly 88-60 Friday night at Mott Athletic Center.
USF (4-2) connected on a season-high 58.2 percent from the field, including a blistering 63.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Dons were 14-for-22 from 3-point range, their fifth-straight game making 10 or more 3-point field goals in a game. The last time USF shot 60 percent or better from beyond the arc came in the win over CSU Bakersfield on Nov. 19, 2019, when USF went 19-for-25 from long range.
"We got off to a little bit of a sluggish start, which I anticipated we would because we came down here today," said head coach
Todd Golden. "We were pretty explosive to start the second half. We need to take care of the ball a little better, but overall a great win, I thought we just overwhelmed them a little bit."
In the early portion of the game, the Mustangs (1-1) kept things interesting. A pair of USF turnovers led to two quick buckets for Cal Poly, who led for the first four and a half minutes. However, a 7-0 run by the Dons gave USF their first lead after
Jamaree Bouyea hit a jumper with 14:44 on the game clock.
Bouyea was the catalyst to the Dons' big win. The native of Seaside, Calif., finished with a game-high 18 points, all coming in the first half. Bouyea was 7-for-10 from the floor and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. He also had a game-high five assists.
"JB did a wonderful job, and if wasn't for him this game might have been a little tricky," said Golden on the Dons' senior point guard. "He did a really good job of keeping us in it, doing the little things: attacking the rim, defending, finding an open look. But that's what we expect of him. He's a senior leader and he was really special tonight, he brought that energy early and we needed it."
Joining Bouyea in double figures was
Dzmitry Ryuny, who recorded his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Julian Rishwain had a season-high 12 points and
Khalil Shabazz added 11.
"He's really coming on, I'm so happy for him," said Golden on Ryuny. "He's a guy that came to our program after being recruited by some bigger programs before choosing us, and he had to sit when he first got here. He had to learn the game, there was a little bit of a language barrier, but ever since the Towson game he's been on another level. To give us a 6-9 wing who can shoot from anywhere and defend and rebound like he's been doing makes us a really difficult team to defend."
Beginning the second half, the Dons went on a 6-0 run thanks to triples by Shabazz and Ryuny. A 19-2 run midway through the second half put the game on ice. From there, USF unloaded the bench. For the second consecutive game, every player who suited up saw action.
The Mustangs were led by Alimamy Koroma, who had 14 points coming off the bench. USF's defense held Cal Poly to just 10 field goals in the second half. A season-high 20 turnovers by the Dons led to 21 points for the Mustangs, most of that coming late in the contest.
"Really pleased with the way our guys stuck together with the change in location of the game, nobody complained, and I'm just really happy to be 4-2 right now," said Golden.
The Dons will return to action on Thursday, December 10 when they are scheduled to host Long Beach State. That game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start.
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