TAMPA, Fla. (January 28, 2007) -- A buzzer-beating floater by Marquette's Jerel McNeal cruelly ended an upset bid by the University of South Florida men's basketball team in a 70-68 loss to the No. 15 Golden Eagles Sunday afternoon at the Sun Dome.

With the game knotted at 68-68 and in possession of the ball, USF's hopes for a game-winning shot attempt were thwarted by McNeal.  He stole a pass intended for Melvin Buckley near midcourt and raced down the court, rattling in a shot as the final buzzer sounded.

Senior forward McHugh Mattis led all scorers with 20 points, one of three USF starters in double figures.  Classmate Melvin Buckley added 16 points in the loss.

In the first half, Mattis scored six of USF's first eight points, helping the Bulls to an early 8-5 lead in the BIG EAST contest, but with three minutes remaining in the half, USF found itself down by seven.

Two free throws from freshman guard Solomon Bozeman and a trey from senior forward Melvin Buckley cut the Marquette lead to a bucket with two minutes remaining.

After the Golden Eagles hit back-to-back long range shots, sophomore guard Jesus Verdejo scored a layup before the intermission.

The Bulls overcame Marquette's six-point (35-29) halftime lead seven minutes into the second period, as Verdejo drained a trey to put the Bulls ahead by one.

A seesaw battle ensued, with neither team posting more than a three-point margin over the next 10 minutes, when USF took a four-point lead (64-60) with three minutes remaining in the game.

Mattis, who missed his fifth double-double of the season by one rebound, blocked six shots and made four assists throughout his 9-of-12 shooting night. Buckley was also one board shy of a double-double while hitting 7-15 from the field.

Junior center Kentrell Gransberry scored 11 points, seven of which were in the second half, and freshman guard Chris Howard had nine assists and seven points.

The Bulls next host Notre Dame on Feb. 3. Tip off is at 8 p.m. at the Sun Dome.