SAN FRANCISCO – Playing in his first game back at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center after missing last season, redshirt sophomore
Charles Minlend came out on fire and stayed that way as the University of San Francisco men's basketball team raced past visiting Maine 93-50.
Minlend scored a career-high 22 points and was one of six Dons to finish in double figures as USF (2-0) shot 54.5 perfect from the field and 48.3 percent from 3-point range. Joining him in double figures was
Frankie Ferrari (13 points),
Jimbo Lull (12),
Jordan Ratinho (12),
Matt McCarthy (10),
Remu Raitanen (10).
In the opening minutes, USF raced out to a 10-0 advantage. Minlend hit the first bucket of the game 16 seconds into the contest and the Dons never looked back. The closest Maine (0-3) ever got to the Dons was five points when Isaiah White hit a jumper to cut the USF lead to five, 15-10.
Ratinho quickly responded with a wide open three point field goal, one of his four made 3-point baskets on the day. The Dons had open looks all afternoon, finishing with 21 assists on the night as the ball was flying around the perimeter to an open man.
Maine had two players finish in double figures, led by Sergio El Darwich and Andrew Fleming's team-high 14 points. Most of that damage came in the second half when the game was out of hand and the Dons emptied the bench.
GAME NOTES
- The Dons have posted back-to-back 34-plus wins for the first time since USF defeated South Carolina State 91-52 and Notre Dame de Namur 86-46 on Nov. 16 and 19, 2014 to open the 2014-15 campaign.
- The last time the Dons had five players finish in double figures game in game one of the CBI Championship when USF defeated the Mean Green 72-62.
- USF has shot 50.0 or better in back-to-back games to begin the year, the last time they shot 50.0 percent or better in back-to-back games came on Jan. 14 and 19, 2017 against Pacific and Portland. The Dons shot just 50.0 or better six times as a team last year.
- The Dons continue to put the clamps on opponents 3-point shooting, after holding UC Davis to 15.8 percent from beyond the arc, the Black Bears finished the day 3-for-20 (15.0 percent).
COACH'S QUOTE
UP NEXT
The Dons will return to action on Monday night when they take on Sonoma State at 7:00 p.m. Monday's game will be streamed live on TheW.tv with
Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli calling the action courtside. Fans can also tune their radio dial to 1550-AM The GAME to hear Olson and Brovelli call the game on the official home of USF Dons Basketball. Tickets for Monday's game are still available and can be purchased at
Dons Ticket Central.
