Game at a Glance
USF Dons (7-2, 0-0 WCC) vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats (6-4, 0-0 Southland)
Monday,  Dec. 19, 2016 • 7:00 p.m.
War Memorial at the Sobrato Center • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Regular Season Meeting: First Meeting
Audio & Video Stream: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Live Stats: StatsBroadcast.com
Television: None

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Tip
USF (7-2, 0-0 WCC) returns to action on Monday night to play host to the Abilene Christian Wildcats (6-4, 0-0 Southland). Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The Dons suffered their first home loss of the season in their last outing on Friday, dropping a 82-78 decision to Portland State. The Wildcats are coming off a 88-86 double overtime loss at Sacramento State on Saturday.

The Dandy Dons

• Now 7-2 on the season after Friday night's 82-78 home loss to Portland State...junior Chase Foster led three Dons in double figures with 16 points.
• At 7-2, are off to its best seven-game start since the 1999-2000 team was also 8-1 after nine games on the way to a 12-1 start.
• Dons' record under Kyle Smith also marks the best start by a USF first-year coach since Pete Barry's 1980-81 USF team got off to a 10-1 start.
• Play the last of five-consecutive home games, including the San Francisco State game which was played at nearby Kezar Pavlion...are 4-1 at at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center this season.
• Monday night's game against Abilene Christian marks the first-ever meeting with the Wildcats...other first-time foes on the schedule include Troy and Alcorn State.
• Lead the WCC and rank 10th nationally in field goal percentage at 50.6...have shot better than 50 percent from the field in six of nine games this season...shot 50 percent or better in six games last season.
• Also top the WCC and rank 19th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (40.8)...ranks seventh nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.6)...made a school-record 18 three-pointers against Eastern Washington and have 10 or more treys in five games this season...Marquill Smith leads the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at 55.6 (10-of-18).
• Were outrebounded for the first time in eight games against Portland State (33-36)...are +53 on the boards over the last eight games and rank fourth in the WCC in rebound margin (+4.2)...sophomore Nate Renfro leads the Dons in rebounding at 6.1.
• Averaging 81.3 points a game this season -- third-highest in WCC...have scored no fewer than 75 points this season.
• USF's reserves have outscored the opponents 255-165 (+90) over the last eight games
• Senior Ronnie Boyce ranks eighth among WCC scoring leaders with a 17.9 points per game average...he has scored 20 or more points in four of nine games this season, including a career-high 31 at UCSB...Boyce has 10, 20-point scoring games for his career.
• Two other Dons - Chase Foster (13.7) and Charles Minlend (10.2) are also averaging in double figures after nine games.
• Nate Renfro ranks in among the WCC's top-10 in four categories - rebounding (8th; 6.1), o-rebounds (9th; 1.9), assists (8th; 6.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (6th; 2.4).
• Have not trailed at halftime this season...were tied at UC Santa Barbara (33-33).
• Travel to Honolulu on Tuesday to take part in the Diamond Head Classic during Christmas week...face Utah in opening round action on Dec. 22...play either Illinois State or Hawaii in second round action on Dec. 23.

Scouting Report

About Abilene Christian
Bring a 6-4 overall record to the Hilltop…dropped an 88-86 decision in double overtime to Sacramento State on Saturday night…program is in its fourth-year on the Division I level…return seven players from last year's team which finished 13-18 overall and 8-10 in the Southland Conference…eight conference victories doubled the previous year's win total of four…sophomore guard Jaylen Franklin scored 20 points in Saturday night's loss at Sacramento State…Franklin was named the Southland's Freshman of the Year and earned second team all-conference honors last season after averaging 16.2 points a game…he missed three games earlier this season with a knee injury and is currently averaging 10.9 points per game…sophomore swingman Jaren Lewis leads the team in scoring with a 16.5 average, followed by freshman Jalone Friday (13.8)…shot 56.9 percent in Saturday night's double overtime thriller in Sacramento and is shooting 50.0 percent from the floor on the year...gave Oklahoma, a Final Four team from a year ago, all it could handle before falling 72-64 in Norman on Nov. 25…also dropped a 64-55 decision at New Mexico on Nov. 30…head coach Joe Golding played at Abilene Christian from 1994-98

Series History with Abilene Christian
Monday night's game marks the first-ever meeting between USF and Abilene Christian. The Wildcats are one of three scheduled first time foes, along with Troy and Alcorn State. Abilene Christian marks the Dons' second game against a Southland Conference team this season, following an 82-63 win over Lamar on Dec. 2. A third Southland Conference school - Stephen F. Austin - is a possible opponent at the upcoming Diamond Head Classic later this week. USF and Abilene Christian have one common foe this season in Sacramento State. The Dons defeated the Hornets, 77-59 on Nov. 29 on a neutral court in Cheney, Wash. while the Wildcats dropped a 88-86 double OT decision Saturday night in the Hornet's Nest.

Last Time Out

Portland State 82, USF 78 
Portland State handed USF its first home loss of the season on Friday night as the Vikings turned back the Dons, 82-78 at the Sobrato Center. USF failed to hold leads of 11 and 13 points as th Dons saw their three-game win streak come to an end. USF held a 54-41 lead less than four minutes into the second half only to see the Vikings use a 15-2 run to tie the game at 56 at the 12:36 mark. The two teams were not separated by more than four points the rest of the way. The Dons trailed 79-78 with :05 left when Matt McCarthy missed a pair of free throws, as the Dons were just 1-of-7 from the line over the last 6:45 of the game. Chase Foster led all USF scorers with 16 points while Ronnie Boyce added 14.

Fan Guide
 
Promotions
Tonight has been designated as Military Appreciation Night. USF will extend free admission to all military personnel with proper ID. Fans who donate a non-perishable food item or an unwrapped toy benefiting the SF-Marin Food Bank and the San Francisco Fire Department will also be admitted free.

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.
 
The Hilltop Club Level
Fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the season in the Hilltop Club Level. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of War Memorial at The Sobrato Center, The Hilltop Club Level 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 Club is priced at $10 per game. Food and drink options are extra. The cost does not include a game ticket.