Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. -- A young USF team hopes playing tightly contested games early in the conference season will pay off sometime sooner than later.
The Dons came out on a short end of a 78-72 decision at Saint Mary's on Saturday, dropping the team's record to 7-10 overall and 0-4 in the West Coast Conference. It was USF's fourth straight loss and 15 straight defeat at the hands of the Gaels, which improved to 13-4 overall and 2-1 in the WCC.
The game followed a familiar script for the Dons. USF trailed by just four points at 66-62 with 2:03 left but were held to just two field goals down the stretch - including a 70-foot prayer by De'End Parker as time expired.
USF has lost four conference games by six points or less.
Cody Doolin scored 13 of his team-high 16 points in the second half while De'End Parker came off the bench to add 15.
Chris Adams nailed three three-pointers and finished with nine points while
Cole Dickerson and Matt Christiansen added eight.
All told, nine Dons got in the scoring column and no player saw more than 29 minutes of action.
Matthew Dellavedova scored 19 points to lead Saint Mary's, while Stephen Holt (16), Beau Levesque (15) and Mitchell Young (14) also reached double figures.
The Gaels made 24-of-27 free throws, shot 51 percent from the floor and outrebounded USF, 31-23.
Saint Mary's was enjoying a 10-point, 27-17 lead with 6:25 left in the first half when USF went on a 19-8 run to take a one point lead at intermission, 36-35.
A three-pointer by Dellavedova to start the second half gave the Gaels the lead back at 38-36 and Saint Mary's would not trail again.
A three-pointer by
Chris Adams brought the Dons to within one-point at 52-51 with 11:42 left and USF trailed by just two points at 54-52 with 10:52 remaining after Parker made one of two free throws.
The Gaels then went on a 7-2 run to take a 61-54 lead with 7:08 remaining.
The Saint Mary's lead was five at 65-60 with 2:25 left when Doolin misfired on a three-pointer. The Dons fouled Dellavedova who made one of two free throws to make it 66-60 with 2:17 left.
Saint Mary's made 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch to hand the Dons their fourth straight defeat.
USF will return home to Memorial Gymnasium next week as the Dons play host to Santa Clara on Thursday followed by a date with Loyola Marymount on Saturday.
