By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 18, 2014 – USF bounced back in a big way following a trip to SMU but couldn't keep the momentum going down the stretch in a 61-54 loss to No. 19/23 Cincinnati in front of a rocking crowd of 5,322 at the Sun Dome on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulls took a lead past the 15-minute mark and Chris Perry's jumper tied things up at 47 with 8:37 to play before Jermaine Sanders' 3-pointer put Cincinnati ahead for good in its 10th straight victory.
Sophomore Javontae Hawkins scored a career-high 15 points and Victor Rudd came up a rebound shy of another double-double with 12 points and nine boards. Freshman John Egbunu also got into double digits with 10 points and his seven rebounds helped USF finish with a 36-30 edge on the glass.
"Overall it hurts to lose and it's tough," head coach Stan Heath said. "We certainly need to get things going in the right direction with wins, but I can't fault my guys' effort and the fight they played with today. Hopefully it carries over because if we build on this we'll win games."
USF (10-8, 1-4) was done in by a 13-0 run by SMU at the beginning of a 71-54 loss Wednesday night in Dallas and the Bulls looked like a much different team from the tip Saturday afternoon.
Cincinnati (17-2, 6-0) built its biggest lead of the game in the first 11 minutes when Sean Kilpatrick's layup put the Bearcats ahead, 19-8, but the Bulls owned the next 7 minutes. A pair of layups from senior Martino Brock and Egbunu sparked a 15-3 USF run and Hawkins' 3-pointer gave the Bulls a 24-22 advantage with 2:40 to play in the half.
The lead changed hands twice before a Ge'Lwan Gyn 3-pointer and two free throws by Shaquille Thomas gave Cincinnati a 30-26 lead heading into halftime.
"Different people made a play when they needed it," Rudd said.
Rudd's layup spotted USF a 35-34 advantage with 15:34 to play after Cincinnati led by as many as seven shortly after the break. The Bearcats responded with a 5-0 run and had another answer for the Bulls once Perry tied the game at 47. Sanders' 3-pointer put Cincinnati back ahead with 8:02 remaining and the Bearcats continued on an 11-2 run past the 3-minute mark.
"This is a game we felt like we should have won. It's good thing we have another chance to beat them," said Rudd, who is 22 points away from reaching the 1,000-point mark as a Bull.
Kilpatrick posted a game-high 18 points and Thomas added 10 points as Cincinnati held its 26th consecutive opponent to fewer than 70 points.
USF has another meeting with the Bearcats Feb. 2 at noon in Cincinnati and the Bulls' continue their stretch of three straight top-25 opponents Wednesday, Jan. 22 against No. 18/14 Louisville at the Sun Dome. Purchase tickets for the 7 p.m. game HERE and stay updated on the Bulls on Twitter @USFMBB.
