Game #8
San Francisco Dons (4-3, 0-0 WCC) vs. Houston Baptist Huskies (3-2, 0-0 Southland)
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 • 2:00 p.m. 
Memorial Gymnasium • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Audio/Video Streaming: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Television: None

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF) | Complete Houston Baptist Game Notes (PDF)

The Dandy Dons

• Bring a 4-3 overall record into Sunday's home game against Houston Baptist...coming off a 72-55 loss Wednesday night at Colorado.
• Are 3-0 at home this season and 16-5 on the Memorial Gym hardwood over the last two seasons.
• Face Houston Baptist for the first time in program history on Sunday....Huskies are coming off a 58-55 home win over Rice on Wednesday.
• Averaging 73.6 ppg which ranks fourth in the WCC...scored 86-plus points in each of the first three games of the season but have averaged 62.5 ppg (250 total) over the last four contests.
• Lead the WCC in rebounding (43.0), offensive rebounds (14.0) per game and rank third in rebound margin (+11.6)...four of five starters averaging between 6.6 and 5.6 boards per game, led by Kruize Pinkins at 6.6.
• Allowing just 63.0 ppg which is tied for third lowest among WCC teams...have allowed just 57.0 (228 total) ppg in their four wins and 71.0 ppg in three losses.
• Shooting just 54.7 percent (88-for-161) from the line after seven games, last in the WCC...USF shot just 64.8 percent (523-for-807) from the line last season.
• Committed a season-high 18 turnovers at Colorado...rank seventh in the WCC in TO margin (-0.43).
• Senior Kruize Pinkins leads the team in scoring (15.9) and ebounding (6.6)...he has scored 26 points in two games this season (NDDM and Montana).
• Junior Mark Tollefsen has scored in double figures in all seven games this season, including a career high 23 points vs. Evansville...he now ranks second behind Pinkins in scoring average at 14.4 ppg.
• Senior Matt Glover has made 8-of-13 three-point attempts to start the season and leads the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at .615.
• Have used three different lineups in six games thus far this season...used three starting combos all of last season.
• The win over Montana was Rex Walters' 102nd coaching victory at USF...six other Don coaches have reached the 100-win milestone.
• Coming off a 21-12 record and an NIT appearance last season...21 wins were the highest total since the 1981-82 season...also tied for second in the WCC with a 13-5 record, posting its highest conference win total since 1976-77.
• Signed Dont'e Reynolds of Kinston, NC (Odessa College) to a national letter of intent on Monday...he joins Cedric Wright (Fort Lauderdale, FL / Dillard HS) in this year's recruiting class.
• Back in action Thursday night against Eastern Washington...home games against Cal Poly SLO (12/15) and Portland State (12/18) will take the Dons to their final non-conference game of the season at Cleveland State (12/21).

Notables
Opening Tip
USF (4-3, 0-0 WCC) returns home Sunday to face Houston Baptist (3-2, 0-0 Southland). Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons are coming off a 72-55 loss Wednesday night at Colorado while the Huskies scored a 58-55 home win over Rice. Sunday's game marks the first of four straight home games for USF.

Series History with Houston Baptist
Sunday's game marks the first-ever meeting between USF and Houston Baptist.

Last Time Out
USF committed a season-high 18 turnovers and dropped a 72-55 decision to Colorado Wednesday night in Boulder. The Dons spotted the Buffaloes a 7-0 lead but six first half three-pointers helped USF build a 10-point first half lead at 21-11. The Dons led 34-32 at intermission but the Buffaloes siezed control of the game with a 18-8 run to start the second half. Colorado led by as many as 19 points late in the second half. Mark Tollefsen led the Dons with 12 points while Matt Christiansen came off the bench to add 10. Chris Adams made 3-of-5 three-pointers and finished with nine points. Colorado scored 29 points off 18 USF turnovers.

The Home Record
USF is 3-0 at home this season with wins over South Carolina State, Notre Dame de Namur and Montana. The Dons are 16-5 on the Memorial Gymnasium hardwood over the last two seasons. The Dons will play their next four games at home before its final non-conference road game at Cleveland State on Dec. 21.

The Defensive Numbers
The Dons are tied for third in the WCC in opponent scoring average, allowing a stingy 63.0 points per game through the first seven contests.  The Dons have allowed 71.0 ppg (213 total) in its three losses and just 57.0 ppg (228) in their four wins. USF also ranks second in field goal defense (38.8) and seventh in three-point field goal defense (34.7).

From the Line
USF is shooting just 54.7 percent (88-for-161) from the line at the seven game mark of the season. USF shot just 64.8 percent (523-for-807) from the line last season, which ranked last in the WCC. The Dons free throw percentage was its lowest mark since the 1985-86 team shot 62.4 percent (328-for-526) from the line.

Beyond the Arc
The Dons rank fourth in the WCC in three-point field goal percentage, shooting at a 37.6 percent clip from long distance. Senior Matt Glover has hit 8-of-13 of his long distance attempts and ranks first in the WCC with a .615 field goal percentage.

Board Work
USF is pulling down 43.0 rebounds per game, which ranks first in the WCC. USF also ranks fourth among WCC teams in rebound margin, outboarding its first seven oponents on margin of 11.6 per game (43.0-31.3). The Dons also rank first in the conference in offensive rebounds with a 14.3 per game mark. Four of the five starters - Kruize Pinkins (6.6), Matt Glover (6.3), Mark Tollefsen (5.4) and Tim Derksen (5.6) - are averaging between 6.6 and 5.6 boards per game. Pinkins, Glover and Derksen have have pulled down 10+ rebounds in a game this season while Tollefsen grabbed nine boards vs. Evansville.

Turnovers
The Dons committed a season-high 18 turnovers Wednesday night at Colorado which led to 29 Buffalo points. The Dons have committed 100 turnovers in their first seven games and rank seventh in the WCC in turnover margin at -0.43.

The Lineups
Head coach Rex Walters has employed three different starting lineups in the first seven games. Derrell Roberston and Matt Christiansen alternated starts in the middle in the first two games of the season, while senior Chris Adams drew his first starting assignment of the year against Evansville. The Dons utilized three starting lineups all of last season.

Kruize-in
Senior forward Kruize Pinkins ranks among the top-10 in four WCC statistical categories, including scoring (9th; 15.9), rebounding (7th; 6.6), field goal percentage (54.9; 9th) and offensive rebounds (9th; 2.6). He has matched his career high twice this season by scoring 26 points vs. NDDM and Montana.

Tollefsen Terrific
Junior forward Mark Tollefsen has scored in double-figures in all seven games this season, including a season-high 23 point effort in a loss to Evansville at the Gulf Coast Showcase. He now ranks as the team's second leading scorer at 14.4 ppg.

Game Day
Ticket Information
Individual game tickets for all USF home games this season are available on line at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10.

Parking Information
Parking is available free of charge two hours prior to tip-off until one hour after the conclusion of the game in any campus lot, with the exception of designated green parking spots and the top of Hayes-Healy garage on Golden Gate Avenue adjacent to the gymnasium.

Promotions
Sunday is Kids' Day at Memorial Gymnasium. Sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods, all children in attendance can enjoy face painting, poster making, temporary tattoos and have their picture taken with Santa Claus. Parents are also encouraged to sign their children up for the Dons Kids Club, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. All children 6th-grade and younger will be admitted free to today's game.

The Hilltop Club Level
USF Athletics is pleased to announce the opening of The Hilltop, a new club level where fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the 2014-15 season. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of Memorial Gymnasium, The Hilltop will open one hour before tipoff and will remain accessible throughout the game. Beer, wine, soft drinks and catered food options will be available to all fans 21 years of age and older. Admission to the The Hilltop is priced at $25 per game. Season passes for all games with the exception of designated premium games may also be purchased for $250. Food and drink options are extra. The cost does not include a game ticket.