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Season Stats
SOUTH PADRE, TEXAS - A day after dropping a double overtime thriller, the University of South Florida was able to steal another close one on Saturday, knocking off Texas Tech, 64-61 in the South Padre Invitational.
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The Bulls hit their free throws down the stretch to hold off the Red Raiders and improved to 4-3 on the season.
USF was led once again by senior Ron Anderson, who transferred from another Big XII school in Kansas State last year, who put up 16 points and six boards on 5-6 shooting from the field in the win.
Anderson was one of five Bulls in double-figures on the night along with fellow big men Jarrid Famous and Augustus Gilchrist. Famous and Gilchrist each added 10 points apiece, while Gilchrist pulled down nine rebounds to earn all-tournament honors.
Jawanza Poland put up 12 points on 4-8 shooting, while Shaun Noriega added 13 on three of five shooting from beyond the arc.
Both teams combined for six points in the first five minutes of the game as USF took the 4-2 lead after a dunk by Jarrid Famous and a layup from Ron Anderson Jr.
Between the next two media timeouts, the Red Raiders scored seven-straight points before Jawanza Poland hit a jumper from the left elbow with nine minutes left in the half to slow the Texas Tech run.
After trailing 19-9, USF used a three by Shaun Noriega, five free throws and a jumper by Poland to go on a 10-4 run and head to the locker room down by five, 23-19.
For the second-straight game, USF's opponent has double-teamed when the ball goes into the post, frustrating the Bulls big men.
In the first half, USF's 12 turnovers led to 10 points by Texas Tech.
The Bulls got a much quicker start in the second half, though, scoring eight points in two-and-a-half minutes, after taking 14 minutes to score eight points in the first half.
USF held Texas Tech scoreless for the first four minutes of the second stanza, giving USF the 35-32 lead.
Anderson Jr. scored four points to open the second stanza, then Gilchrist added four of his own before Jawanza Poland grabbed a steal from TTU and changed the momentum of the game with 15 minutes left in the half, bringing the Bulls within one, 32-31.
Jarrid Famous scored six-straight points for the Bulls and Shaun Noriega drained a three at the 12-minute mark to give USF the 40-37 lead, but a 13-3 run from Texas Tech put USF down, 50-43.
USF regained the lead, 58-56, with six-straight free throws, including four from Noriega and two from Anderson, with three minutes left in the game.
Texas Tech missed a three with under 25 seconds remaining, and Gilchrist pulled down the board and was immediately fouled. He hit the first free throw but missed the second, putting USF up 62-59 with under 10 seconds to play.
The Bulls fouled, and the Red Raiders made both to cut the lead to one, but USF would hit their free throws to ice the game, splitting their pair of matches in the tournament.
The Bulls return home for a midweek game against Virginia Commonwealth on Wednesday before facing FAU and Kent State on the road this weekend.
Notes
- USF starters were Mike Burwell, Jawanza Poland, Hugh Robertson, Augustus Gilchrist and Jarrid Famous. Anthony Crater was out again with a sprained left ankle.
- Five Bulls scored in the first half, led by six from Jawanza Poland. He finished the night with 12 points.
- Five USF players scored in double digits, including Ron Anderson Jr. (16), Shaun Noriega (13), Jawanza Poland (12), Augustus Gilchrist (10) and Jarrid Famous (10).
- The Bulls continued to dominate on the boards, outrebounding the Red Raiders 18-12 in the first half and 37-32 overall.
- USF continued to struggle in the turnover column, giving the ball away 12 times, but also forced 12 turnovers by Texas Tech.
- True freshman LaVonte Dority started in place of Mike Burwell in the second half after the sophomore guard injured his ankle in the first half. Burwell returned to the game midway through the second stanza.
