SAN FRANCISCO – Playing in front of the home crowd for the final time this season, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team came out on fire. The Dons made 12 3-point field goals in the first half and cruised to a 72-62 win over North Texas to take a 1-0 advantage in the best of three series in the CBI Finals. USF's 14 made 3-point field goals gives them 312 on the year, a new program record for made 3-point field goals in a single season, surpassing the mark of 299 set last year.
USF (22-15) received a tremendous effort from its starting lineup as all five starters finished in double figures. Senior
Chase Foster, playing in his final game at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center, was four assists shy of a triple-double. Regardless, he wraps up his career on the Hilltop recording his first career double-double scoring a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Matt McCarthy joined Foster with a double-double as well, he grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 10 points. It is McCarthy's fourth double-double of the year and third in the tournament.
Frankie Ferrari was one assist shy of a double-double, he finished with 13 points and nine assists.
Nate Renfro finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, and
Jordan Ratinho finished with 17 points.
The Dons came out of the game firing on all cylinders. USF opened the game making seven of their first eight shots from long distance. The Dons finished the first half 12-for-18 from beyond the arc and went into the locker room up 46-30. The 46 points ties a season-high for points scored in the first half.
Out of the break, USF went cold from the floor. The Dons missed their first 10 attempts from beyond the arc when Renfro hit a triple in front of the USF bench. Even with two lengthy scoring droughts, North Texas (18-18) could only cut the Dons' lead to eight and never got closer. USF's defense was spectacular, holding a high-scoring Mean Green to well below its season average.
Leading UNT in scoring was Roosevelt Smart who scored 15, he was one of four players for North Texas to finish in double figures.
GAME NOTES
- The game belonged to the starting lineups: both benches combined to score nine points on the evening, by far the lowest total of the season. Souley Boum scored all five of USF's points off the bench.
- USF wrapped up the regular season with two double-doubles on the year. They matched that tonight and have now recorded four in this tournament. McCarthy has three in the CBI with Chase Foster recording the other.
- With the win, USF improves to 16-6 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The 16 wins matches the 1995-96 teams for the most wins at home since the Dons were a perfect 18-0 in 1980-81.
- The win also extends the Dons winning streak to a season-best four games. This season, USF has had three winning streaks of three games.
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NEXT UP
The finals move to Denton, Texas for game two and potentially game three. USF looks to earn its first postseason championship since the 1956 NCAA Tournament on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. PST when they play game two of the best of three series at the Super Pit.
