SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco men's basketball team's 17-point halftime lead was whittled down to two points late in regulation thanks to a big run by visiting Sam Houston State.  In the end, the Dons (6-0) responded with a run on their own to defeat the Bearkats (2-3) 90-81 on Saturday evening at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
USF had five players finish in double figures and were led by Jamaree Bouyea's team-high 15 points.  Joining Bouyea in double figures was Jimbo Lull (14 points), Jordan Ratinho (13), Remu Raitanen (12), and Charles Minlend (11).  As a team, USF once again got everyone into the action, all nine players who saw the court scored at least four points. 
 
The Bearkats were led by Zach Nutall's game-high 23 points he was one of four players in double figures.  Sam Houston State shot 48.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.  In the second half those numbers swelled to 69.2 percent from the field and 70 percent from beyond the arc.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Dons opened the game on a 12-5 run, USF scored the game's first seven points thanks to the inside play of Lull who scored the first seven points of the contest.  The Dons were just 5-for-14 to open the contest, but USF's defense held the Bearkats to just 3-or-13 shooting early.

• After the Bearkats cut the Dons lead to seven with 3:52 in the half, USF went on a 10-0 run over the final two minutes to go into the locker room leading 49-32.  All nine players who saw action in the opening half scored for the Dons who were led by Lull's 10 points.  USF shot 48.5 percent from the field (16-for-33) and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (12-for-14) in the first half.
 
• Out of the break, the Bearkats took control early, going on an 10-0 run to cut the Dons lead to 9. A jumper in the paint by Minlend and a three at the top of the key by Ratinho before the first media put the Dons back up 14. But Sam Houston State reused to go away. Nutall scored 21 of his 23 points after the intermission, going 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.  
 
• Another big run by the Bearkats late in the contest all but erased the Dons 17 point halftime lead, cutting the deficit to two points. A timeout by the Dons bench was followed by a three point bucket by Raitanen and Bouyea had the Dons back out by five with just over three minutes to play.
 
• A 13-2 run by USF over the final 2:21 aided by a hot streak that saw the Dons go 4-for-5 from the field put the game away. The dagger was a three by Minlend on the far wing with a minute left in the contest.
 
NOTABLE NUMBERS
-4: For the first time this season the Dons bench, was outscored by their opponents.  Sam Houston State's reserves finished with 37 points, while the Dons scored 33.
3: For the third time this season the Dons had five players in double figures. The other two contents came against Sonoma State and CSU Bakersfield.
5: The Dons were just plus five on rebounds this evening – USF entered the contest +13.4 in rebound margin which was eighth best in the nation. USF's was led by freshman Josh Kunen who had a game-high eight rebounds.  Dzmitry Ryuny finished second in the game with seven.  
14: Second chance points were once again huge for the Dons.  USF had 14 second chance points – nine coming in the first half.  USF finished the night with 10 offensive rebounds.
90: With the 90 points scored by the Dons tonight that makes four times this year, USF has scored at least 80 points.  The Dons scored north of 80 12 times last year.  USF improves to 56-16 when scoring 70 or more in the last four years.
 
NEXT UP
The Dons will host Hampton on Tuesday at NOON prior to flying to the Aloha State for a Friday evening contest at Hawaii.  The game against Hampton will feature live stats and be streamed on the WCC Network, the game will also feature an audio broadcast on the home of Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.