TAMPA – The shorthanded and somewhat sick Bulls had little trouble snapping a two-game losing skid Sunday afternoon.

Toarlyn Fitzpatrick put up a career-high 25 points and Hugh Robertson pulled down a career-high 21 rebounds to help the USF men's basketball team rout Florida A&M, 83-59, at the University of Tampa.
 

Ron Anderson Jr. and Victor Rudd Jr. both were sick and USF's lineup also was still missing USF's second-leading scorer from 2010-11 in Jawanza Poland. 

"We're still battling some things, but I think next game we should be full-go," head coach Stan Heath said.

Fitzpatrick picked the Bulls up on the offensive end, going 11-for-16 from the field and adding eight rebounds as USF improved to 6-4 after losses to VCU and Kansas.

"Toarlyn I thought was very good on the offensive end, knocking down shots, being aggressive and being versatile," Heath said.

Robertson had his best day on the boards since high school, grabbing 12 of his 21 rebounds on the defensive end.

"I just want to put my team in the best position to win the game," said Robertson, who added nine points.

The Bulls had two other players finish in double figures with Shaun Noriega putting in 12 points and freshman Anthony Collins chipping in 10 points and a career-high eight assists.

"I thought he was much better in late-clock situations, getting the ball to the right guys and making some plays himself," said Heath of Collins.

USF had to fight to get ahead before it pulled away down the stretch.

Sunday's first half featured eight lead changes and two ties. FAMU led by as many as four at one point before the Bulls took over in the final minutes before the break. Collins weaved around two defenders to make a layup look easy that sparked an 11-0 run to help the Bulls head into the break with a 39-29 lead.

Before the half, Fitzpatrick provided the offense by getting into double figures (14 points). Collins wasn't far behind with 10 points and four assists during a stretch that saw the Bulls shoot 50 percent from the field. 

USF continued to pull away with a 6-0 run to start the second half, while the Rattlers went almost 8 minutes between their last score of the first period and Yannick Crowder's bucket with 17:39 remaining in the game.

Heath said difference between the big run and the beginning of the game was a greater dedication to defense.

"I thought once we finally got into people and made them do something different the game changed in our favor," he said.

The Bulls' lead never dipped below 14 after Crowder's basket and the last members of their razor-thin bench got playing time before it was all over.

"To play a game like this, it's good for your confidence," Fitzpatrick said.

USF has a few days to get healthier before it heads to Auburn to face the Tigers on Wednesday at 9 p.m.