USF runs past Tampa, 73-45, in exhibition contest
November 06, 2011 | Men's Basketball
TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's basketball team raced out to a 22-4 lead over the University of Tampa and never looked back en route to a 75-43 victory in an exhibition contest Saturday night at the Bob Martinez Center.
The Bulls featured a balanced scoring attack as four starters reached double-figures. Senior forward Augustus Gilchrist posted a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor. A trio of Bulls, Ron Anderson Jr., Victor Rudd Jr., and Shaun Noriega chipped in 11 points apiece.
Gilchrist played a vital role in USF's dominant frontcourt production, which outscored Tampa 44-10 in the paint. The Bulls capitalized on nine offensive rebounds, resulting in 14 second chance points. USF posted a sizeable rebounding advantage at 45-27. Junior forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick added a game-high 11 rebounds.
USF knocked down 28-of-52 field goals as they posted a 53.8 clip from the floor. Defensively, the Bulls held the host Spartans to a 29.4 field-goal percentage, including a mark of 20.8% in the second half.
The Bulls never trailed in the contest and had nine different players see action. All nine players managed to score a point for the Bulls.
Following a three-pointer by Tampa's Ted Amendola to open second half, USF rattled off a devastating 14-0 run that spanned 5:43 to pull ahead by 29 at 57-28. The frontcourt of Anderson Jr., Fitzpatrick and Gilchrist accounted for all 14 points during the swing.
The Bulls forged a 43-25 lead at the break on the strength of efficient shooting from a number of players. USF connected on 15-of-24 field goal attempts for a 62.5 field-goal percentage.
Gilchrist carried the scoring load in the first with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. A driving Rudd Jr. found a wide open Gilchrist for a two-handed dunk at the 1:00 mark, giving USF its largest lead of the half at 42-22. Rudd Jr. set the tone early with an alley-oop slam off the assist from LaVonte Dority for an early 5-0 advantage.
USF returns to action at the Bob Martinez Center next Saturday in the season opener against Vermont as part of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tournament. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. against the Catamounts.
