Bulls Down Florida State in Thriller

Sunday, November 18

Daytona Beach, Fla.

8:15 p.m.

University of South Florida

Florida State

Bulls Down Florida State in Thriller

November 18, 2007 | Men's Basketball

USF 68, Florida State 67

By: USF

Final Stats PDF | Quotes | Postgame Notes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --The University of South Florida pulled out a thrilling 68-67 win over in-state foe Florida State during the final game of the Glenn Wilkes Classic Sunday.

Seminoles guard Jason Rich hit a jumper with 42 seconds remaining to pull FSU to within one, but fellow guard Toney Douglas' last-second shot was for naught, giving the Bulls the upset.

The Seminoles (3-2) led twice early in the first, but trailed the majority of the game. Down 39-30 at the half, FSU used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to take a 48-47 lead but true freshman Orin Chin hit a 3-pointer to put USF back ahead 50-48 and the Bulls never trailed again.

USF guard Chris Howard hit two free-throws with 56 seconds left to keep the Bulls (2-3) ahead of the Seminoles 68-65 and they held on for the victory.

FSU had no answer for USF's impressive 3-point shooting, which went 11-of-18 for the game, including Chin, who went 3-for-3. Howard, Jesus Verdejo, Dominique Jones and Solomon Bozeman all hit two 3-pointers.

Center Kentrell Gransberry scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-11 in the paint and the Bulls had three other players score in the double digits. Guards Verdejo and Howard had 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Chin contributed 11. Howard also added eight rebounds and seven assists, while Gransberry pulled down eight rebounds.

The Seminoles were led by Ralph Mims, who came off the bench to score 16 points on 6-of-13 field goal shooting and four 3-pointers.

Guard Isaiah Swann and Douglas both had 15.

FSU made nine of its 20 3-point attempts, but was able to get 22 points off the bench.

The Bulls were perfect from the line in the first, going 8-for-8, and finished 13-of-16 from the line. The Seminoles struggled shooting throughout the game, going 27-of-65 on field goals.

The two teams hadn't met since 2002, when FSU dropped 104 points on USF in Tampa. The Seminoles still lead the series 20-12, but the Bulls have taken three of the last four.