SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco men's basketball team held an eight point lead midway through the second half when BYU's frontcourt took over.  The Cougars strong interior post play was the difference as BYU stunned the Dons 72-63 on Saturday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
"I thought we played a good first half, and a good first five or six minutes of the second half," said head coach Todd Golden. "It looked like their depth and their physicality really affected us on the front line and I think they just wore us down."
 
BYU's (11-3, 2-1 WCC) game plan was to pressure the Dons' three point shooters and force them to make quick shots or abandon the three all-together.  For the most part that was ineffective as USF shot well from 3-point range, connecting on 36.1 percent of their attempts (13-for-36).
 
A big reason for that was the play from Khalil Shabazz who finished with a game-high 30 points.  His third career 30 point game and second against BYU at War Memorial Gym.  Shabazz finished the night 10-for-21 from the field and 8-for-14 from 3-point range.  He also had four steals in an all-around outstanding performance.
 
"He played well," said Golden on Shabazz's night. "He gave us a lift, especially in the first half and got us going when we were having a little trouble scoring.  What I was proud of most with him was that he competed a full 40 minutes.  Even when things got rough there in the second half he didn't' hang his head, he didn't pout, he just kept powering and fighting though.  That's what makes Khalil who he is and that's why he has a chance to be a really great player."
 
Joining Shabazz in double figures was Dzmitry Ryuny who had 10.  Jamaree Bouyea had nine and Julian Rishwain had eight in a strong performance off the bench.
 
BUU had four in double figures led by Alex Barcello's 19, 17 of that coming after the intermission.  Richard Harward had 13 along with 11 rebounds for a double-double, Matt Haarms had 11 and Gideon George had 10.    
 
"You had hat kid Harward off the bench who played really well, he was much more physical and stronger than our posts.  Even Haarms got it going the second half with a couple of right shoulder finishes."
 
Late in the second half the Cougars physically took over.  With the game tied 40-40 with 9:46 to play, the Cougars scored seven baskets inside the paint propelling  them on a 9-0 run to take the lead 58-49.
 
"This game was lost for us on the glass. I thought all the other factors we were really good.  We got enough stops to win, we took care of the ball really well, obviously we made some shots late.  But they were just too big and too physical for us on the glass and I think that was why the outcome was what it was."
 
BYU outrebounded the Dons 45-28 and finished the night with 12 second chance points.  In the paint, the Cougars had a 40-18 advantage.  BYU finished the night shooting 44.8 percent from the field and were 15-for-18 from the free throw line – 14-for-16 in the second half when USF was forced to put the Cougar on the line.
 
The Dons will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Santa Cruz, Calif., to take on Santa Clara at the Kaiser Permanente Arena.  That game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. tip and will be televised on NBC Sports California. Pat Olson will have the call on the home of USF Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.