LAS VEGAS (Dec. 22, 2013) – Senior forward
Victor Rudd posted his third consecutive double-double, but a season-high 18 turnovers plagued the Bulls as they fell to Mississippi State 71-66 Sunday at Orleans Arena in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic.
Rudd scored 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field including a season-high three 3-pointers, brought down 11 rebounds and had two blocks.
USF (8-3) shot well from the free throw line at a season-high 80.0 percent clip (12-of-15). Corey Allen Jr. was 8-of-8 from the line as the junior guard scored 16 points and dished out a game-high four assists. Still, it was the turnovers that doomed the Bulls which the Bulldogs (9-2) converted to 20 points and a few easy transition layups.
"Our defense wasn't good in the first half, but we settled down in the second half," said USF coach Stan Heath. "We gave up way too many transition baskets."
USF led by seven points, its largest of the contest, six minutes into the game before MSU went on a 26-10 run to take a nine-point lead with four minutes to play. The Bulldogs led 38-35 at the half.
MSU never trailed in the second half despite the Bulls best effort down the stretch.
USF trailed by five points with 2:34 to play. Chris Perry and Allen Jr. both made two free throws to cut the deficit to two points, 68-66 with 42 seconds remaining. However, MSU hit its free throws as Fred Thomas, who led the team with 14 points, drained two at the line to give the Bulldogs a four-point lead with 26 seconds to play.
Perry finished with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and had nine rebounds for the Bulls who were outrebounded 32-31.
"I thought we were prepared for their zone then when we say it I thought we were a little sloppy against it and didn't execute very well," said Heath.
Starting point guard Anthony Collins did not play due to a sore left knee which has bothered him all season.
USF, which had won its last four game, will play in the third place game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic on Monday at 8 p.m. ET against Santa Clara (6-6) which lost to UNLV on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on CBSSN.
