By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
HARTFORD, Conn., JAN. 25, 2015 – Nehemias Morillo posted a career-high 18 points but the Bulls couldn't catch up to UConn in a 66-53 loss Sunday at the XL Center.
With just one turnover in the second half, USF (7-13, 1-6) cut a 12-point deficit all the way down to two with 12 minutes remaining before Ryan Boatright and the Huskies improved to 11-7 (4-2 in The American). Boatright finished with a career-high 28 points after scoring 19 points in the second half.
Senior guard Corey Allen Jr. (St. Louis) joined Morillo in double figures with 11 points as USF was forced to go without Chris Perry. The sophomore forward from Bartow, Fla., was out of the lineup with a health issue. Redshirt freshman Bo Zeigler (Detroit) started in Perry's place and scored seven points.
"I was impressed with how the kids competed and in the second half how they battled," head coach Orlando Antigua said. "We executed, we defended, we made things difficult and toward the end Boatright made some big shots."
UConn forced the shorthanded Bulls to play catch-up by going on an 11-1 run on the way to an 18-9 lead. The Bulls headed into halftime down, 30-20, after holding UConn without field for the final 6 minutes, 43 seconds.
USF used a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to two 8 minutes into the second half before the Huskies pulled away. Rodney Pervis' free throws extended the Huskies' lead to 41-37 and Boatright scored UConn's next 13 points in the second meeting between the programs this season.
UConn did a lot of its damage at the free throw line in a game that featured 41 fouls. The Huskies went 22-for-29 from the charity stripe as Boatright went 10-for-11 and Pervis went 8-for-12. Pervis was UConn's other player in double figures with 17 points.
Morillo registered his 10th game in double figures in his debut season with the Bulls. The junior guard from Santiago, Dominican Republic tied his career high with six field goals and knocked down two of USF's five 3-pointers.
Fans can catch the Bulls back at home on Wednesday, Jan. 28 against SMU. The ESPNU game is set for a 7 p.m. start at the Sun Dome and fans can purchase tickets HERE.
