Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO -- It wasn't easy by any means but USF notched its second win of the season Wednesday night with a 91-82 victory over the visiting Cleveland State Vikings in Memorial Gymnasium.
Trailing 67-64 with 6:53 remaining, the Dons scored 10 consecutive points to take a 74-67 lead and seize control of the game en route to the team's second consecutive victory to open the season.
Tim Derksen, who scored 17 points off the bench, ignited the run with a three-pointer from the left corner that tied the game at 67. After the Vikings misfired on a three-pointer, Derksen's breakaway layup gave the Dons a 69-67 lead with 6:22 left.
Avry Holmes, who finished with 14 points, then drained a three to give USF a 72-67 cushion at the 6:09 mark.
Mark Tollefsen capped the 10-0 run with a pair of free throws that gave the Dons a 74-67 lead with 5:30 remaining.
After Cleveland State managed to cut the lead to four at 75-71 with 4:37 left, junior
Matt Glover scored the Dons next five points to boost the lead to nine at 80-71 with 3:47 remaining. The Vikings got no closer than five points down the stretch.
Tollefsen led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Derksen finished with 17 points and six rebounds while
Avry Holmes nailed all three of his long distance attempts and finished with 14 points. Glover finished with 12 despite playing in foul trouble for much of the second half.
Cole Dickerson scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and 15th of his career.
Cody Doolin had 11 assists to go along with six points.
Five Vikings reached double figures, led by Charlie Lee and Sebastian Douglas, who finished with 15 apiece.
Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field, with USF finishing at 56.9 while Cleveland State shot 50.9 percent.
The Dons held a 33-27 advantage on the boards.
Cleveland State held a 38-33 lead at the break and led by as many as nine points at 66-57 with 8:40 remaining in the game.
However, USF outscored the Vikings 17-1 over the next three minutes to take control of the game down the stretch.
"
Tim Derksen really gave us a lift tonight and I thought
Mark Tollefsen was fantastic," said USF head coach
Rex Walters. "I'm proud of our guys. Cleveland State is a good team - very athletic, tough and physical. We weathered a lot of storms in this game. It was a great win for us."
USF will return to action on Friday night when the Dons play host to the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.
