TAMPA, Fla. (January 24, 2007) -- Junior center Kentrell Gransberry recorded his seventh double-double of the season in the University of South Florida men's basketball team's 62-40 BIG EAST victory over Rutgers Wednesday night at the Sun Dome.

Gransberry scored 13 points and had 13 rebounds in his 14th game of the season.

The Bulls (11-10, 2-5 BIG EAST) opened fire on the Scarlet Knights in the first half, hitting 15-24 from the field, a 62.5 percent clip, to take a 38-18 halftime lead.

USF also converted 5-of-8 from long range in the first half, with two bombs apiece from senior forward Melvin Buckley and sophomore guard Jesus Verdejo.

Verdejo led all scorers at the half with 10 points, while Buckley was atop the rebounding column, grabbing seven.

After the intermission Rutgers tried to make a run at the Bulls, but couldn't get any closer than 18 points, partly due to an eight-point second-half performance by freshman guard Chris Howard.

Howard was one of four Bulls to notch double-digit scoring, dropping 10 points along with dishing four assists and snatching two steals. Verdejo also registered 10 points, three assists and three steals, while Buckley added 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Bulls ended the game hitting 22-47 (46.8 percent) overall and 35.7 percent (5-14) from behind the 3-point line.

The 22-point victory snapped a two-game losing streak and marked the largest victory in the squad's short BIG EAST history.  Rutgers' shooting percentage (27.6 percent) marked the lowest (fifth-lowest ever) by a USF opponent since Jacksonville connected on just 27.1 percent of its chances in 1996.

USF welcomes No. 15 Marquette to the Sun Dome Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. in the team's next action.