By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - The motivated Bulls were eagerly looking for redemption against FAU on definitely got it Saturday night.

Toarlyn Fitzpatrick set career highs with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the USF men's basketball team's 68-55 victory over the Owls before a crowd of 2,109 at the University of Tampa.

FAU beat USF, 50-42, last year and veteran Bulls certainly didn't forget the loss heading into the Bulls' second straight home win.

"We felt like we owed them one," said Fitzpatrick, a junior. "They stole one from us at FAU last year."

Ron Anderson Jr. also played big inside, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds to help the Bulls improve to 5-2. Victor Rudd Jr. reached double figures for the fourth time this season with 11 points, while freshman Anthony Collins posted 12 points and seven assists.

"He gives you a tremendous lift," said head coach Stan Heath of Collins, who was coming off a six-assist performance in his debut Wednesday.

What turned into a rout proved to be a tight game early on in the Bulls' second game at the University of Tampa this season. FAU led, 18-14, about 10 minutes in until USF countered with a 25-5 run to grab a 39-23 advantage at the half.

"Once we settled into the game and switched into a little bit more of a zone, it changed the game a little bit," Heath said. "It got momentum going on our side."

Rudd had nine points during the momentum shift and Fitzpatrick tied a career high with three of USF's six 3-pointers in the half.

FAU (3-4) had almost as many turnovers (8) as it did field goals (9) in the first period and the Bulls scored 10 points off them.

"I think as a team collectively, I think that was our best first half this year," Fitzpatrick said.

FAU cut its deficit to 57-48 with less than 5 minutes left when Collins took it upon himself to step up offensively. The point guard hit a jumper, added a layup as he was falling down and hit a free throw to give the Bulls a 12-point cushion it never relinquished.

"When they were making that run, we needed something and he provided," Heath said. "He's certainly an advanced player for his age."

USF improved to 12-1 all-time against FAU and equaled its points total from last year with 19:07 to play in the first half.

"We left with a sour taste from last year and we wanted to play well," Heath said.

USF goes for three wins in a row 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when it takes on VCU in Richmond, Va.