Mattis Leads USF To 86-54 Win In European Opener &

[TyBull]

Mattis Leads USF To 86-54 Win In European Opener  

Courtesy: USF

           Release: 08/14/2006

   

 

Courtesy: USF

ROME, Italy -- The University of South Florida men's basketball teamed opened its 2006 European tour with an 86-54 victory over Pallacanestro Cadorago Monday afternoon at the Arena Altero Felice in Rome.

Senior forward McHugh Mattis led all scorers with 33 points and also chipped in a game-high 16 rebounds.  Sophomore forward Aris Williams added 14 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, one of four players to finish with double figures in points.

"I was really pleased with the effort by the guys and the final score doesn't indicate how much they had to battle through," head coach Robert McCullum said.  "We haven't been here two days yet and they were up early for a tour of the Vatican.  Throw in the 95-degree heat in the arena and I think it says a lot about our team."

Cadorago scored the opening point of the game on a free throw, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Melvin Buckley put the Bulls ahead and they would never look back the rest of the way.

USF held a nine-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and were comfortably ahead 42-26 at the intermission.  Mattis led the way with 12 points and Williams owned eight points and seven boards at the break.

The Bulls were able to extend the lead despite encountering foul trouble with the team's six-person squad.  Senior forward Melvyn Richardson picked up three quick personals and was forced to the bench.  He managed to stay in the game in the second half and finished with 20 points and six rebounds.  Williams was the only Bull to collect all five fouls.

Mattis did a majority of his damage in the second half, netting 19 of the team's final 25 points in the game.  Similar to his first season at USF, all of his points came in the lane thanks to offensive rebounds and layups.

NOTES:  The Bulls began the day with a tour of Vatican City, including the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica ... Tuesday brings more exploring of Rome and a trip to the Mediteranian Coast ... the travel party heads to Florence on Wednesday morning and returns to action on the court against Firenze Select on Thursday.

 

[TyBull]

Nice Shirts. Evidently the players do not shop in the bookstore..... :'(

[JoeB]

Nice trip.  Vatican City after playing a hoops game.  Kids are having the trip of their lifetime.

[Kyle]

Those are their reversable practice jerseys.

Does this win count toward making the big east tourney?

[Bobcat99]

Aris Williams is going to be awesome, you guys just wait.

[dabull80]

Maybe we can win the BE with a little blessing from the Pope

[bullman3]

No game until Thursday?????  CONTENT ERASED by Bulliever>>>>

Bulliever to bullman3:  You may not have seen the other post re: this trip - The Gladiators for the new season.. - but you need to know the cheap shots are to cease.  Save them for basketball season.

FINAL WARNING!

[Triple B]

Nice trip.  Vatican City after playing a hoops game.  Kids are having the trip of their lifetime.

Actually Vatican City was in the morning BEFORE the hoops game. Something must have rubbed off. Maybe we need this guy for the season......  

[bulls96go]

sound like this team can score and with the other additions we may be much better than last year

go mac

go bulls

[South_Florida_Flip]

Maybe we can win the BE with a little blessing from the Pope

;D Nice one!