By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Senior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick stepped his game back up with a season-high 22 points in USF's 69-64 overtime loss at UConn on Sunday.

Fitzpatrick finished with a double-double after grabbing 10 rebounds, while Victor Rudd heated up after halftime to post 12 points. Anthony Collins added 10 points and five assists as USF dropped to 10-11 (1-8 in Big East).

Jawanza Poland grabbed nine boards off the bench to help the Bulls finish with a 43-41 rebounding advantage in their fourth straight loss.

Head coach Stan Heath wanted to see consistency when he talked with reporters earlier this week and the Bulls delivered in the first 20 minutes. A fast-break dunk by Poland put USF up, 23-13, with less than 4 minutes to play in the half and the Bulls went into the break with a 27-15 advantage.

Fitzpatrick knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half and went 4-for-6 from the field on the way to 11 points. The Tampa native also had six rebounds to help the Bulls grab a 22-19 edge in boards in the opening period.

The game took a ton of twists just to get to overtime.

USF got a three-point play from Fitzpatrick and grabbed a 48-47 lead with 3:42 to play. A pair of free throws by Shabazz Napier gave UConn a 51-50 lead with 40 seconds remaining. A Fitzpatrick turnover forced USF to foul and Ryan Boatwright went 1-for-2 from the free throw line to give the Huskies a two-point advantage with USF having one last shot.  Collins delivered a layup with 12 seconds left and Napier's three-point try missed before the buzzer.

UConn (15-5, 5-3) took control in overtime with an opening 6-0 run and increased its winning streak to three games.

USF gets another shot at No. 25 Marquette 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sun Dome. Marquette's two-game winning streak was snapped earlier Sunday with a 70-51 loss to No. 12 Louisville. The Golden Eagles are now in a first-place tie with Syracuse.