BELFAST, Northern Ireland – The University of San Francisco men's basketball team improved to 7-0 for the first time in 37 years following a 76-58 win over Stephen F. Austin on Friday afternoon in game one of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic at SSE Arena.
The Dons (7-0) led by just three points at the intermission as both teams were hot to start. USF went into the locker room shooting 51.7 percent while the Lumberjacks finished the first at a 46.7 clip. The Dons opened the game 6-for-16 from 3-point range.
After the intermission, USF turned up the defensive intensity, holding the Jacks to 24 points in the second half. SFA shot just 37.7 percent from the field in the second half including a 1-for-8 mark from 3-point range.
The Dons responded with impressive ball movement to constantly find the open man. USF's 21 assists – eight after the half, led to a 39 point barrage as the Dons pulled away for the 18 point victory, their sixth win by 18 or more this season.
Jordan Ratinho was one of four Dons in double figures, he finished with a game-high 19 points going 7-for-13 from the field and 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Also in double figures was
Charles Minlend who had 16 points.
Frankie Ferrari had 14 points and nine assists – in the second half alone Ferrari had 12 points and five assists.
Matt McCarthy finished with 11 points and three rebounds, foul trouble limited McCarthy to just 16 minutes.
Stephen F. Austin (4-2) was led by Kevon Harris' team-high 18 points he was joined by Shannon Bogues with 12 as the only two Lumberjacks in double figures. The Dons defense on the interior led by
Nate Renfro,
Jimbo Lull and McCarthy was tremendous. The Jacks found it very difficult to get any easy looks without one of the three contesting a shot in the paint.
Renfro finished with seven points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in an all-around stellar performance. Lull finished with just three points but grabbed eight boards and was a pest in the middle.
COACH'S QUOTE
GAME NOTES
- The Dons shot better than 50.0 percent for the fourth time this season and first time since the LIU Brooklyn game. USF is shooting 49.2 percent which is tied for 40th best in the nation.
- Frankie Ferrari's nine assists gives him five games this season with at least five assists or better. For the year, Ferrari has 46 assists on the year.
- Ratinho's 19 points gives him gives him 763 for his career. At his current pace of 12.1 ppg he will eclipse the 1,000 career points later this season – becoming 36th player in school history o score 1,000 points.
- The Dons 7-0 start is the best since USF started the season 10-0 in the 1981-82 season. Prior to the that the last 7-0 start or better came in the 1979-80 season when USF started 9-0 under head coach Dan Belluomini.
- The 21 assists by the Dons ties a season-high that was last achieved in the win over Maine. As a team, the Dons are averaging 16.4 assists per game which ranks tied for 54th in the nation.
- Finally, the Dons are one of the last unbeaten teams in the country. USF joins a short list of 18 teams without a loss – three of those 18 come from the WCC as LMU and Gonzaga are also undefeated.
NEXT UP
USF will have a quick turnaround before their biggest test of the season. The Dons will play No. 21 Buffalo in the championship game of the Belfast Classic. That game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. local time/7:30 a.m. tip. It will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan calling the action. Fans can also tune into
Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli as they call the championship game courtside on the official home of USF Dons Basketball 1550-AM The GAME.
