Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Four USF players scored in double-figures led by junior
Cole Dickerson's 19 points and 20 rebounds as the Dons defeated visiting Montana, 78-68 Friday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
The win is USF's fourth straight as the Dons improve to 4-1 on the season while the Grizzlies fall to 3-3.
Dickerson has posted four double-doubles in five games this season after his 19 point, 20-rebound effort on Friday and is now averaging 15.0 rebounds a game after five contests, tops in the nation.
Freshman Tim Derksen finished with a career high 18 points, De'End Parker added 16 while
Cody Doolin chipped in with 14 to go along with game-high seven assists.
Kareem Jamar paced Montana with 21 points while Jordan Gregory added 14 off the bench,
USF shot 50 percent from the floor while limiting the Grizzlies to 37.3 shooting. The Dons also outrebounded its fifth straight opponent, 42-33.
USF enjoyed an 18-10 lead midway through the first half before the Grizzlies battled back to take a 22-21 lead with 6:23 left. The Dons eventually took a 30-24 lead at intermission. Dickerson pulled down 12 rebounds in the first half while Derksen scored 10 of his career high 18 point before the break.
USF's lead was just five points at 63-58 after a pair of Gregory free throws, but the Dons put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run to take a 72-58 lead with 1:16 remaining.
USF will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 4 when it welcomes St. John's to Memorial Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. start.
Rex Walters' Post-Game Quotes
"It's a quality win against a good team, even though they were a little banged up. They are hard to guard and will get better as the season goes on."
"We didn't play our best but we came away with a win."
"It was a phenomanal effort by Cole. We've had two pretty good back-to-back individual efforts by De'End against Columbia (31 points) and Cole tonight and quite honestly I don't know which one was better. Nineteen and 20 -- that's crazy stuff."
"It's fun to watch out guys grow up.
Mark Tollefsen is stepping in and making big plays.
Chris Adams is coming into his own and Frank Rogers continues to grow."
"He's (Derksen) is a coach's son. He works hard each and every day is is really hard on himself. He is really fun to coach."
Men's Basketball vs. Montana Gallery
