University of South Florida
Liberty
Burwell, Anderson Jr. Lead Bulls Over Liberty, 60-43
November 24, 2010 | Men's Basketball
USF Coach Stan Heath
USF Players Ron Anderson Jr. and Mike Burwell
TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's basketball team, led by an unlikely starting duo, knocked off Liberty 60-43 on Tuesday night at the Sun Dome.
An injured left ankle kept starting point guard Anthony Crater on the bench, giving sophomore guard Mike Burwell his first career start for the Bulls. Alongside Burwell was junior forward Ron Anderson Jr. who also made his first USF career start in the victory.
Burwell picked up a game-high 15 points, along with Liberty guard Evan Gordan, brother of NBA star Eric Gordan of the L.A. Clippers, who also added 15 for the Flames.
Anderson was on the glass the entire night, picking up 15 rebounds in the opening period, and finishing with a career high 17 overall, the highest total of the year for USF. Anderson also added six points and three assists in his first start of the year.
The Bulls shot 43.8 percent from the field on the night, and 40 percent from beyond the arc, and held the Flames to just 29.2 percent from the field and 25 percent from long range.
Jawanza Poland put up eight points in 22 minutes, and Shaun Noriega and Hugh Robertson each added seven points apiece in the win.
Burwell electrified the crowd with a game opening three-pointer, his first shot attempt all season. He led the team with a career-high 15 points, going 5-for-7 beyond the arch.
After being tied at five early on, USF went on a pair 10-0 runs to close out the half, 35-20.
Anderson Jr. made his presence known with a career-high 15 rebounds going into the second period, out-rebounding the entire Liberty team in the first stanza.
Momentum was with the Bulls throughout the entire game, extending their second half lead to as many as 24 points. With the dominating lead, the Bulls' bench made their presence known, giving the entire team time on the floor, besides for the injured Crater.
Senior walk-on Alberto Damour got his first playing time of the year, entering to close out the game for USF.
USF's defense held the Flames under 30 percent shooting, and out rebounded them 37 to 28..
With the win, the Bulls improved to 3-2 on the year, and will hit the road, traveling to South Padre Island, Texas, to continue the South Padre Invitational, tipping off against BYU on Friday.
Game Notes
Both Ron Anderson Jr. and Mike Burwell made their first USF-career starts.
Ron Anderson Jr.'s 15 first-half rebounds are more than any Bull pulled down in an entire game during the 2009-10 season.
Mike Burwell's game opening three was his first shot of the season and he finished 5-of-7 from the arc with a career-high 15 points.
The Bulls' 10 3-point field goals are the most this season, surpassing the nine they had against St. Francis.
Alberto Damour, a 6-6 senior from Poinciana, Fla., made his first appearance as a Bull.
Ron Anderson Jr. out rebounded the entire Liberty Flames team during the first half, 15 to 12.
Anderson Jr. grabbed 15 rebounds to tie the school record (since the 2002-03 season) for most rebounds in a half.
After starting the game with a 5-5 tie, the Bulls went on a 10-0 run to make it 15-5. Later in the half they went on another 10-0 run to go ahead 29-10.
The Bulls took a season-high 24-point lead at 8:07 in the second period against Liberty.
USF's 15-point halftime lead is the largest of the season, surpassing the nine-point lead against Georgia Southern.
Freshman guard LaVonte Dority scored a career high seven points, surpassing his two-point total against Georgia Southern.
USF took the 7-5 lead at 15:41 remaining in the first period and never lost it.
