USF let a 13-point lead slip away in the final six minutes of regulation, then missed two costly free throws late in overtime as UAB escaped with a 78-77 victory Wednesday night.
USF led 77-76 and had senior Aris Williams at the line for two free throws with 20 seconds left, but he missed both free throws. UAB's Paul Delaney, who had a 3-point play with 14 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, hit two free throws with 14 seconds left, and USF's Jesus Verdejo missed a shot at the buzzer.
The Bulls (3-2) got a career-best 26 points from Verdejo, including USF's five points in overtime. Verdejo had five of USF's 11 3-pointers, which matched their most in two seasons under Stan Heath. It's the second close loss in two road games for the Bulls, who lost by two points at Virginia in their road opener.
USF led 67-54 with six minutes to play, then saw the Blazers score the next 10 points to get within three points with 1:26 to play. Guard Dominique Jones went to the line with 18 seconds left with a chance to put USF up four, but he missed one of two free throws. Up three, he committed his fifth foul as Paul Delaney hit a layup, and Delaney's free throw sent the game to overtime, though UAB has a shot to win in regulation after a USF turnover.
Jones had 15 before fouling out, and freshman guard Justin Leemow, who had totaled three points in his first four games with the Bulls, came up huge with three 3-pointers off the bench in three attempts. The Bulls stay on the road, playing at Central Florida on Saturday night.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
UCF is the last game without them. They can play in USF's home game against Niagara on Dec. 14.
Posted by: G.A. | December 05, 2008 at 10:47 AM
When does Gilchrist and Mercer become eligible?
Posted by: AGW | December 05, 2008 at 10:37 AM
USF sucks!
Posted by: Chalko | December 04, 2008 at 06:20 PM
They shot too many 3 pointers down the stretch...
Posted by: | December 04, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Not finishing seems to have become a chronic USF problem across all sports except soccer.
Posted by: wayne | December 04, 2008 at 12:20 PM
"Lack of depth is the reason why we are getting beat."
it's not the depth ... it's the LOFT
Lack
Of
Friggin'
TALENT
YOU'VE JUST BEEN EDUCATED!
Posted by: ThE PrOfFeSoR | December 04, 2008 at 10:38 AM
drats
Posted by: cg | December 04, 2008 at 10:29 AM
This is the 2nd time that our lack of depth hurt us and not surpising we lost both games. Right now Jesus is the main man with Jones and Howard also being our only true scorers. At Virginia, Howard fouled out at a critical time when we needed him and Virginia was able take advantage to steal a game from us. Against UAB Howard's body brokedown towards the end and Jones made a silly 5th foul that turned him into a cheerleader on the bench where we didn't need him.
Jesus must've felt like the only man on an island at the end of regulation and the OT. We had to count on the likes of a walkon guard and/or Leemow, Espinosa, Williams, and no passing BJ Ajayi to face off with UAB during those pressure moments. Yet somehow we still had a chance to win the game. However there ain't a team in the nation that couldn't have guarded against our game winning attempt when everyone knew Jesus had to shot the ball.
Lack of depth is the reason why we are getting beat.
Posted by: The Champ | December 04, 2008 at 09:43 AM
How about that as a measure of improvement and better things to come--when have had a game with UAB that we could and should have one in the closing seconds?
Posted by: | December 04, 2008 at 09:17 AM
how about the turnover with 14 seconds to go when we passed it in and the guy litterally just dropped the ball out of bounds.
RR is right.
It begins.....
I have no clue how we lost that game. We dominated from the first minute to the last.
Posted by: Ari Hinkelberger | December 04, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Sounds like normal Bulls basketball. Just wish someone would lift the curse off the team.
Anyone know a good voo-doo doc ?
Posted by: Richard Todd | December 04, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Jones is not a clutch player. He had some god games last year but anyone could have done that when you only had Gransberry. He continues to screw up close games with his bad shot selection, and horrible three point shooting percentage. He makes very bad decisions sometimes with teammates open that can shoot the ball. Verdejo is the best player on the floor at this time. He is the one to look for in the clutch.
Posted by: DJ | December 04, 2008 at 08:09 AM
It begins...
Posted by: RR | December 04, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Crapola!
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | December 04, 2008 at 07:50 AM
At end we had only Jesus able to score and everybody knew it too. Depth and missed FTs is the reason why we lost tonight. Losing Howard and Jones was huge. Speaking of Jones, what has happen to this guy's jumper? He was great up until about 5 or 6 games left in last season and it has continued. Jones hurt us with missed wide open 3s and FTs he couldn't knockdown.
Posted by: The Champ | December 03, 2008 at 11:45 PM