SAN FRANCISCO – USF received career-high scoring efforts from Devin Watson, Tim Derksen and Uche Ofoegbu and was able to outlast Coppin State, 96-93 in overtime Friday night in War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
With the win, USF improves to 6-4 on the season while Coppin State falls to 2-9.
 
Watson scored a game-high 31 points, Derksen added 23 and Ofoegbu, making his first career start, added 17. Watson also had eight rebounds and five assists. Derksen canned 8-of-11 shots from the floor while Ofoegbu was just as efficient, making 7-of-10.
 
Terry Harris scored a team-high 27 points for Coppin State while James Sylvester added 18.
 
There were 27 lead changes and 19 ties in the game.
 
The Dons shot 55 percent from the floor for the game, including 60 percent after intermission. USF also held a 39-29 advantage on the boards.
 
Coppin State took advantage of 11-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc and 26 (of 30) free throws but dropped its seventh straight game.
 
The game was tied at 84 at the end of regulation, as Slyvester knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game with :04 left after Ofoegbu gave the Dons a 84-82 lead with two free throws with :13 left in the game.
 
A three-pointer by Slyvester gave the Eagles a 93-90 lead with 2:11 left in the overtime period, but two free throws by Watson brought the Dons to within one at 93-92 with :42 left.
 
Slyvester took the ball to the length of the floor but turned the ball over when Chase Foster drew an offensive foul under the basket with 16.3 seconds remaining.
 
The Dons took a 94-93 lead when Derksen tipped in Watson's missed layup with :10 remaining. After the timeout, Coppin State's Josh Treadwell was forced into a turnover by Ofoegbu and Derksen was fouled gathering the loose ball. He made both free throws with :01 left to give the Dons a 96-93 victory.
 
"I'm pleased with the win but we weren't very efficient overall tonight," said head coach Rex Walters. "Devin was fantastic offensively and Tim played on guts and effort tonight. Uche really stepped up in his first start.
 
"We still need to improve our execution and effort and can't settle for 'B's'."
 
USF will return to action Monday night when the Dons open West Coast Conference play at Saint Mary's. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. in McKeon Pavilion and the game will be televised on CSNCA.