USF MBB Falls To Providence In Home Finale

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

USF MBB Falls 77-72 To Providence In Regular Season Home Finale

TAMPA, Fla. (February 28, 2007) -- Despite six points from freshman guard Solomon Bozeman in the final 90 seconds, the University of South Florida Bulls (12-17) dropped the regular season home finale 77-72 to Providence (18-10) Wednesday night in the Sun Dome.

After trailing by as many as 11 in the second half, three free throws and a trey by Bozeman in the final minute-and-a-half brought the score to within one, but consecutive layups by Providence gave the Friars the five-point BIG EAST victory.  

Junior Kentrell Gransberry notched his 11th double-double of the season with 25 points (10-of-15 FG) and 14 rebounds, while senior McHugh Mattis tallied three blocked shots to tie the single-season USF record (108) in the category. Mattis also registered a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds as Bozeman ended with 13 points.

Providence jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, but a jumper by sophomore Jesus Verdejo sparked a 7-0 USF run to put the Bulls ahead by one.  

The Friars regained the lead and held it until Bozeman chipped in two free throws before the half to knot the score at 33 for the intermission.  

After connecting on 54.2 percent (13-24) in the first period, PC tore out of the half on a 15-4 run to take the 48-37 lead. Freshman Zaronn Cann broke up the Friar scoring at 14:45, hitting a jumper and bringing the Bulls within 11.  

With five minutes left in the contest, USF pulled within three points of Providence, as freshman guard Chris Howard scored his first bucket of the game.  

The Friars answered with a 6-0 run, but the Bulls fought back, motivated by a dunk from Mattis and Bozeman’s three made free throws, after being fouled on a trey, which brought USF within three.  

With 45 seconds remaining, Bozeman converted a shot from long range, but a desperation three-pointer from senior Melvin Buckley fell short, giving way to a 77-72 Providence victory.  

The Bulls forced the Friars into 18 turnovers, scoring 23 points off of Providence’s miscues.

USF concludes the 2007 regular season this weekend at DePaul. The Bulls and Blue Demons tip off at 2 p.m. on March 3 in Chicago.