LAS VEGAS – Pacific's first team all-league player, Jahlil Tripp, jogged into the locker room at halftime with 23 points. Though the University of San Francisco men's basketball team had a one point lead, they seemingly had no answer for Tripp who was scoring at will.
 
That changed in the second half.
 
Out of the break, the Dons (22-11) went to a zone that confused the Tigers (23-10) who missed the first five shots from the field after the intermission.  During that time, USF – who was steadily scoring all contest, built momentum.
 
The Dons outscored Pacific 36-19 in the second half en route to a dominating 72-54 win over the fourth seeded Tigers.
 
"A big part of it was just take care of Tripp," said head coach Todd Golden when asked what second half adjustments the coaching staff talked about in the locker room. "He had 23 points in the first half on an incredible individual performance. I thought we didn't do a good enough job keeping him in front of us in the first half.  I think Taavi (Jurkatamm) and Remu (Raitanen) did a great job in the second half of just containing him and making him finish over us."
 
USF finished the night with three players in double figures and was once again led by an energetic Charles Minlend.  Minlend finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting he was also a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. He was joined in double figures by Jimbo Lull who had 16 points, and Jamaree Bouyea who had 11 – all coming in the second half.
 
"We were incredibly unselfish again," said Golden discussing the Dons' offensive performance against one of the league's top defensive clubs.  "I think these last two games have been two of our best efforts in terms of sharing the ball and finding guys shots.  We finished with 15 assists to eight turnovers, just an incredible effort sharing the ball and getting shots for other guys.  At the end of the day when we play like that we are really tough to stop."
 
Pacific was led by Tripp who had a game-high 29 points.  After starting the game 9-for-14 in the first half, he went just 1-for-9 from the field in the second. The only other player to finish in double figures was Gary Chivichyan who had 12.  Pacific shot 30.6 percent from the field – but in the second half they were just 5-for-33 (15.2 percent).
 
The Dons responded by shooting 54.0 percent from the field, their eight game shooting 50.0 percent or better and second consecutive game doing so.
 
However, it was their defense that was the difference tonight.  Senior Remu Raitanen and Taavi Jurkatamm was tremendous.  Raitanen finished with a season-high eight rebounds to go along with his six points and three assists. Jurkatamm, and his tremendous wing span, helped him corral Tripp.  He also finished with three assists.   
 
With the win, the Dons improve to 20-32 in the WCC Tournament.  USF now 8-7 as the fifth seed.  
 
USF advance to the semifinals where they will face top seed Gonzaga on Monday. That game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip and will air on ESPN with Bob Wischusen and Dick Vitale on the call, Sean Farnham will serve as the reporter. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will be back on KNBR 1050-AM.