Game Stats: PDF | HTML | Game Notes | 2008-09 Season Stats

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Dominique Jones scored 22 points and had eight rebounds and Jesus Verdejo added 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the University of South Florida to its first Big East win of the season, beating DePaul 80-58 on Saturday at All-State Arena.

Early in the first half, USF (6-9, 1-2) outscored DePaul 6-0 to take control of the game. Verdejo gave Augustus Gilchrist a nice pass for a dunk, then Verdejo had a layup and Alex Rivas' basket gave the Bulls a 15-6 lead.

DePaul (8-9, 0-4) has lost 14 of its last 16 Big East games, dating back to last season. Mac Koshwal led the Blue Demons with 18 points and eight rebounds. He had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half for DePaul.

The Bulls outrebounded DePaul 40-22 and DePaul was 12-of-23 from the free throw line.

USF led 39-29 at the half. Jones and Gilchrist both had 12 points in the half. Gilchrist finished with a career high 16 points.

After DePaul cut the USF lead to seven at 51-44, the Bulls used a 9-0 run to stretch the lead to 16 and were never threatened again. USF also added a 13-0 run starting with 4:41 left in the game and pushed the lead to as large as 25.

USF junior guard Chris Howard posted his second career double-double, scoring 12 points and dishing out 10 assists while having zero turnovers.

The Bulls go on the road next Wednesday to face No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.