Loud crowd and a great game here at the Sun Dome, where USF has refused to go away, cutting a Syracuse lead to five points on a basket by Gus Gilchrist. The Orange lead is just 55-50 with 4:36 to play.
Dominique Jones now has 15 points, including a 3-pointer that cut the lead to five with 5:45 to play. Gilchrist has scored USF's last three points.
USF had the ball with a chance to cut the lead to a single possession, but Jesus Verdejo missed a 3-pointer from the wing, dropping him to 0-for-10 on 3s and 3-for-17 on the night.
Another controversial call a few moments ago, as guard Chris Howard was running the fast break and appeared to have a layup and foul that could have cut Syracuse's lead to four with 6:35 left. Instead, he was called for the charge, allowing Syracuse to extend the lead to nine on its next possession.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Bulls 54, orange 59.
Respectable showing but Heath needs to get them ready to play in first half. Syracuse had poor free throw shooting, I can only hope the rest of the Big East will be as generous.
Posted by: BullBard | January 02, 2009 at 10:34 PM
The second half was fun to watch. The first half not so much. Same problem as last year we have a chance to win it at the end but end up losing 9 time out of 10
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 02, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Chris Howard proved me wrong wrong with a great 2nd half. Almost the whole team really. If this game was played when Verdejo wasn't in this slump we probably would have won.
Posted by: JT (Atlanta) | January 02, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Jones had chance to hit tying three but clangs.
Posted by: BullBard | January 02, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Not as bad as most people thought
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 02, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Bulls 54, orange 57. Gilchrist hits nice jumper to inch closer by taking in eratic pass from the point.
Posted by: BullBard | January 02, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Big steal and jam by Bulls. 2:41
Bulls 52 orange 55
Posted by: BullBard | January 02, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Also, Syracuse is falling apart- Jimmy B seems to have lost his touch in the past few seasons.
Posted by: David Weber | January 02, 2009 at 10:21 PM
If Verdejo finds his stroke, they have a fighting chance. If only Mercer was healthy...
The call on Howard was one of the worst I've seen all year. Why do Big East refs hate USF in all sports? Is it because our inclusion in the conference got them a paid trip to Florida (that they lost when Miami left)?
Posted by: David Weber | January 02, 2009 at 10:21 PM