TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's basketball team got a career-high 20 points from Jawanza Poland, but his performance wasn't enough to overcome 16 USF turnovers in a 68-63 loss at Providence on Wednesday night
Toarlyn Fitzpatrick added 13 points and Augustus Gilchrist 10 in the losing effort. The Bulls fall to 8-15 overall and 2-8 in BIG EAST play.
USF arrived in Providence looking for a season sweep of the Friars after securing a 79-72 win in Tampa on January 16, but the back-and-forth affair Wednesday swung Providence's way late in the second half.
Back-to-back threes from Fitzpatrick and Gilchrist tied the game at 58 with 2:49 to play before Providence's Marshon Brooks answered with scores on the next two Friar possessions to regain the lead 63-58.
USF battled back to within three twice in the final minute but couldn't even the score as the Friars sealed the game at the free throw line.
The Bulls led 30-29 at halftime thanks to solid play from Poland, who scored 12 of his 20 in the opening frame.
USF led by as many as seven early in the game and trailed by nine with 5:48 to go in the game before rallying to tie the score. The game saw seven lead changes and seven ties.
Senior Jarrid Famous did not make the trip to Providence due to a back injury. He is expected to be available when USF returns to action Saturday vs. Syracuse at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- Five different Bulls scored USF's first 11 points including three from Augustus Gilchrist and two from Anthony Crater, Jawanza Poland, Ron Anderson Jr. and Hugh Robertson.
- USF blocked five Friar shots in the first nine minutes of the game. The Bulls ended with seven blocked shots.
- Jawanza Poland scored 12 points in the first half en route to a career-high 20 on the night.
- Shaun Noriega has hit a three in eight of the last 11 games, including one vs. Providence.
- The Bulls were 9-12 at the free-throw line for the game and are (26-33) in the last two contests.
- Toarlyn Fitzpatrick posted a season-high two steals in the game. He had notched one steal in six games this season.
- Augustus Gilchrist posted a season-high three blocks. He had two blocks in two previous games this season.
- Sophomore Toarlyn Fitzpatrick tied a career-high with 13 points, including a career-high tying two threes. Last season Fitzpatrick hit the game-tying trey to send the game into overtime on USF's 109-105 victory at Providence.
- The two teams combined to score 214 points in their tilt at Providence last season. Tonight's combined point total was 131.
