Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. -- USF has certainly made enough measureable strides over the last few weeks to believe it can compete in the upper echelon of the West Coast Conference. However, a trip to McKeon Pavilion in Moraga can provide a not so subtle reminder how far the Dons still have to go to seriously challenge one of the conference's heaveyweights.
Saint Mary's, led by Stephen Holts' 21 points, made 11 three-pointers and shot 55.8 percent from the floor to hand USF a 88-73 loss before a sellout crowd of 3500.Â
It marked Saint Mary's 17th consecutive win over the Dons in the series, a streak that dates back to the 2005-06 season.
Avry Holmes led USF in scoring for the fourth time in the last five games as the sophomore finished with 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor.
Kruize Pinkins and
Cole Dickerson each added 16 while
Mark Tollefsen finished with 13.
USF finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field, thanks largely to a 60.7 percent effort in the second half.Â
Saint Mary's shot 55.8 from the floor and nailed 11-of-21 of its three-point attempts and knocked down 29-of-37 free throws.
USF never led in the game and trailed by 15 at the half, 43-28. However, the Dons came out of the locker room and hot six of their first seven shots of the second half to cut the Gael lead down to seven at 49-42 at the 16:18 mark.
The Gaels lead was still seven at 55-47 when Saint Mary's ripped off the next 13 points to take a 68-47 lead with 11:14 left. USF could get no closer than 13 down the stretch in dropping its 11th straight game at McKeon Pavilion.
USF, 11-7 and 4-2 in the West Coast Conference, will return to Memorial Gym on Thursday night to face the BYU Cougars in a nationally-televised game beginning at 6:00 p.m. The game is the first of five consecutive home contests for the Dons, with San Diego paying a visit to the Hilltop next Saturday night.
Rex Walters' Post-Game Comments
"We needed to do a better job guarding the ball and eliminating three-pointers. They had 33 points off three's today - way too many. When you give them shots like that, they are tough to beat."
"It's about getting our guys to understand what they need to do to be successful every nigth out. We've been closer to them from an intensity standpoint but tonight they kind of called us out again."
