QUEENS, N.Y. ? The University of South Florida men's basketball team mounted a furious second-half comeback, but it came up just short in a 66-62 BIG EAST Conference loss at St. John's Wednesday night.
Junior center Kentrell Gransberry had arguably his best game as a Bull, finishing with 20 points and a career-best 19 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Senior forward McHugh Mattis chipped in 16 points, five rebounds and five blocks and classmate Melvin Buckley added 15 points (11 after halftime).
The Bulls, who are battling for one of the 12 spots available in the league tournament, missed an opportunity to improve the team's standing in the tight race. The loss kept the team in sole possession of 14th in the 16-team league. A win would have move USF into a tie with Connecticut, St. John's, Villanova and DePaul for ninth overall.
USF trailed 40-19 at the half, but turned things around in the opening moments of the second stanza. Gransberry went to work, netting the team's first five points. The Bulls continued to chip into the deficit and eventually reached single digits with 10 minutes to go.
A basket by Gransberry set the score at 51-49 at the 6:30 mark, the closest USF had been since the opening minutes of the contest. The Red Storm answered with back-to-back hoops to create some breathing room. The Bulls weren't done, however, and a Buckley trey again made it a two-point contest in the final minute.
Forced to foul, the Bulls watched the Red Storm convert on free throw opportunities to hang on for the win.
USF shot just 31.8 percent from the field in the opening half and turned the ball over 11 times as St. John's was able to build a 40-19 advantage at the intermission. The Red Storm, meanwhile, knocked down seven treys and turned USF's miscues into 11 points.
The Bulls continue their season Saturday afternoon at Louisville. Game time is set for 3 p.m. ET.
