SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Ronnie Boyce scored a career high 31 points to lead USF to a 75-63 victory over UC Santa Barbara Wednesday night at the Thunderdome.

Boyce, the lone senior on the Dons roster, scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half lead USF to its second consecutive victory to open the season. He also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Freshman Charles Minlend was also in double figures with 16 points while sophomore Marquill Smith added eight.

Gabe Vincent scored a team-high 23 points for UCSB, which falls to 0-2 on the season.

USF shot 47.5 from the field and held the Gauchos to an icy 32.3 shooting percentage. The two teams were even on the boards at 41.

The Dons got off to a slow start and fell behind 11-2 less than four minutes into the game. USF still trailed 21-10 but proceeded to go on a 12-2 run to take a 24-23 lead on a Matt McCarthy short jumper. The Dons upped their lead to 26-23 on a Boyce basket. The Gauchos answered the Dons run with a 7-0 spurt of their own to regain the lead at 30-26. The two teams went into halftime tied at 33-33.
 
The game was tied at 41 with 12:37 remaining when the Dons seized control of the game behind Boyce. USF went on a 15-2 run to open a 56-43 lead with 8:28 left with Boyce scoring 13 of the 15 points in the decisive stretch.

UCSB cut the lead to 60-53 at the six minute mark on a Vincent three-pointer but could get no closer as USF came away with a 12-point victory.

The Dons will return to action next Wednesday against Troy on the Hilltop beginning at 7:00 p.m.