TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The University of South Florida beat Southern Methodist 60-46 in the season opener for both teams as the Bulls' Jesus Verdejo scored 18 points, 11 of which came in the second half.

Verdejo scored 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to twice put the Bulls ahead by 14.

Dominique Jones chipped in with 13 for the Bulls and also added a game-high six assists. USF converted six of their 21 3-point attempts, four of which came from Verdejo.

Derek Williams scored 13 points and fellow guard Paul McCoy had 10 to pace the Mustangs, who hit only 27.7 percent (13-for-47) from the field. The 27.7 percent field goal percentage defense was the lowest in the Stan Heath era for USF.

Alex Rivas Sanchez hit back-to-back shots to give USF its first lead, 18-17, with 6:44 left in the first half and the Bulls never trailed. The Bulls led 32-23 at the break despite missing 10 of 12 attempts from behind the arc. Rivas Sanches tallied eight points and six rebounds.

Senior forward Mobolaji Ajayi pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with a blocked shot. The four post players for the Bulls, Ajayi, Rivas Sanchez, Arial Williams and Eladio Espinosa combined for 22 points and 27 rebounds against the taller Mustangs.

The two teams last met in 1987, with SMU beating USF 87-66.

* With the win USF is 1-0 on the year, while SMU falls to 0-1. USF head coach Stan Heath is now 1-1 in season and home openers.

* ?Up next: The Bulls go on the road for the first time this season to take on Virginia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.

* ?Senior guard Jesus Verdejo led the Bulls with 18 points, including 4-9 from 3-point range. Sophomore Dominique Jones was also in double figures with 13.

* ?Senior forward Mobolaji Ajayi led USF with 11 rebounds, while Jones led the team with 6 assists.

* ?USF outrebounded SMU 43-39 and also outscored the taller Mustangs 24-10 in the paint.

* Only one opponent last season scored fewer than SMU's 46 points scored.

* USF's 27.7 percent field goal percentage defense was the lowest in the Stan Heath era.

* The four post-players for the Bulls: Aris Williams, Eladio Espinosa, Mobolaji Ajayi and Alex Rivas Sanchez combined for 22 points and 27 rebounds.

* With the win, the Bulls improved to 29-9 all-time in season openers and to 24-3 all-time in season openers at home.

* ?Freshman Eladio Espinosa made his first career start, while freshman Justin Leemow, Gaby Belardo and junior transfer Alex Rivas Sanchez made their first appearances in a Bull uniform.

* ?The Bulls took their first lead of the game, 18-17, at the 6:44 mark of the first half on an Alex Rivas Sanchez put back and never trailed the rest of the way.

* USF's biggest lead of the game was 15 points with 1:03 remaining in the game.

* ?USF's biggest lead of the first half was 10 with 1:13 remaining. The Bulls had 16 second chance points at the break and 15 points off SMU turnovers.

* ?Mobolaji Ajayi led both teams with eight rebounds at the half, including five on offensive end.

* Jesus Verdejo led USF with seven points at halftime as eight Bulls scored in the first stanza.