Did he really do this?

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGBHYEW9TUE.html

Bulls Have Easy Time Vs. FIU

By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Nov 22, 2006

TAMPA - Early in the second half against Florida International, University of South Florida senior McHugh Mattis stood on the wing, cradling the basketball and speaking nothing but the gospel truth.

"They ain't got no chance, man," Mattis boasted.

Mattis actually could have made that statement at the opening tip as the Bulls crushed FIU 79-50 Tuesday night at the Sun Dome.

Mattis, who had 22 points and 14 rebounds, said he thought the Bulls had it won "from the beginning."

USF (3-0) needed only 10 minutes to build a 27-8 lead. In the second half, USF led by as much as 33 points.

USF senior forward Melvyn Richardson added a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds, while senior Melvin Buckley had 15 points and avenged last year's loss to FIU.

"Last year it was a four- or five-hour bus ride back home with our tails tucked between our legs, sulking the whole way back," Buckley said. "Just a grueling, grueling loss. Can't put it any other way. To come out tonight and win like we did is definitely a confidence builder."

Freshman Solomon Bozeman continued his strong play with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Sophomore forward Aris Williams added a career-high nine rebounds.

USF's 29-point margin of victory was its second largest under McCullum. With the lopsided score, it allowed McCullum to empty his bench.

"It's big," Buckley said. "It's foreign for me to be on bench for [four] minutes in the first half. This is new.

"It's just a great opportunity. The opportunity to come out and get a breather and then at the end of the game see guys that don't really get the credit they deserve to get a couple of layups, get the crowd hyped. It's great. It's great."

Elvis Lora and Johwen Villegas paced the Golden Panthers (2-3) with 12 points each.

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: USF senior F McHugh Mattis had 22 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks, three assists and three steals.

STAT OF THE GAME: After missing the first 15 3-pointers of his USF career, senior PG Chris Capko has hit four of his last six 3-pointers, including 2 of 4 Tuesday.

TURNING POINT: Before the game when FIU's team lined up single-file on the court and bowed to USF's fans. FIU continued to be the perfect guests, falling behind by 19 after only 10 minutes.

UP NEXT: USF hosts Stetson Monday at 7 p.m.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Inside The Game

 FG FT Reb    

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Galindo 20 2-7 2-2 2-4 0 4 7

Giorgi 22 1-6 0-0 2-7 1 5 2

Lora 32 4-10 1-2 0-0 4 3 12

Villegas 31 4-12 4-6 3-6 3 1 12

Prejean 32 1-12 3-4 0-4 1 1 6

Fuller 17 2-4 1-2 0-3 0 1 5

James 12 0-1 2-2 0-1 0 0 2

Nsangou 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Essola 3 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 0 0

Gacesa 2 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 2

Larson 14 0-2 0-1 1-3 0 5 0

Bright 10 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2

Totals 200 16-56 13-19 10-31 10 22 50

Percentages: FG .286, FT .684. 3-Point Goals: 5-19, .263 (Lora 3-7, Prejean 1-3, Galindo 1-4, Giorgi 0-2, Villegas 0-3). Team Rebounds: 1. Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers: 13 (Lora 3, Larson 2, Giorgi 2, Villegas 2, Galindo, James, Nsangou, Essola). Steals: 2 (Lora, Prejean)..

 FG FT Reb    

Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS

Buckley 30 5-15 2-4 0-3 2 3 15

Mattis 34 9-11 4-4 4-14 3 2 22

Richardson 26 7-9 1-3 2-9 0 5 15

Capko 30 2-4 0-0 0-1 5 1 6

Saaka 28 3-7 0-2 2-5 2 2 6

Rubens 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Lovett 8 1-1 0-0 0-1 1 2 2

Bozeman 30 1-5 7-7 0-6 7 1 9

Williams 11 1-5 2-2 4-9 0 3 4

Torres 1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0

Totals 200 29-58 16-22 12-48 20 20 79

Percentages: FG .500, FT .727. 3-Point Goals: 5-17, .294 (Buckley 3-8, Capko 2-4, Torres 0-1, Bozeman 0-4). Team Rebounds: 0. Blocked Shots: 5 (Mattis 5). Turnovers: 11 (Mattis 4, Buckley 2, Richardson 2, Bozeman 2, Williams). Steals: 6 (Mattis 3, Bozeman 2, Saaka).

Fla. International 27 23 - 50

South Florida 43 36 - 79

A-2,537.

[Brad]

Did they really bow to the fans?

[79 Bull]

Did they really bow to the fans?

Yes - I think they took everyone by surprise.  Just before the national anthem they walked out to center court, lined up and faced the side student section and bowed!  It was bizarre.

[Guest r_to_the_izzo]

I dunno what is up with FIU, but one of the players threw a weak punch at Richardson. They just enjoy fighting in all theior sports huh?

[Economics_Nerd82]

Yeah, they did bow. I think that is what fueled a lot of the student reaction.

[Triple B]

Yeah, they did bow. I think that is what fueled a lot of the student reaction.

Why would that fuel them?? It's a show of respect .....

[Rabbi Bull]

football game, um player bows to fiu students, following extra point a brawl breaks out.  nuff said

[flsportsfan83]

FIU was to blame for that brawl.

[alau255]

the bowing was very disrespetful in my opinion.  THe way they did it it is something they do every game.  It seemed like everyone was just in shock when they did it.  It was one of those what the hell moments.  I have never seen it done by any team before

[bulls96go]

don't bow on our court...did they stomp on he bull,too?