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Another Road Game, Another Road Loss

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2008

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Same old, same old. That pretty much sums up the University of South Florida's latest Big East road game at DePaul on Saturday.

Although the Bulls managed a rare halftime lead, it wasn't nearly enough as the Blue Demons roared past USF in the second half, rolling to a 69-61 victory at Allstate Arena.

"They got a little bit of momentum going," USF coach Stan Heath said, "and we couldn't put out the fire."

At this point, it's become an inferno. USF (10-14, 1-10 Big East) lost its 26th consecutive conference road game, the nation's longest streak, and also lost its 10th consecutive game overall, the third-longest losing streak in school history.

"It's real frustrating," USF sophomore guard Solomon Bozeman said. "Ten games in a row we've lost and we can't win a game on the road.

"We need to get a win quick, especially on the road."

In the first half, it appeared this might be USF's historic Big East road win. DePaul missed 21 of its first 25 shots as the Bulls took a 29-13 lead. After DePaul scored eight consecutive points, Bozeman's 3-pointer sent USF into halftime with a 32-21 cushion.

It was only the third time in 21 Big East road games USF held a halftime lead.

"Coach told us to finish strong," USF senior Kentrell Gransberry said. "We had 20 minutes left."

After being held to 21 first-half points, DePaul needed less than nine minutes to score 21 in the second half. Two minutes later, the Blue Demons (10-13, 5-6) took their first lead, 49-48, on Will Walker's basket.

In a 15-5 run, Walker had 13 of his career-high 21 points as the Blue Demons turned a 43-39 deficit into a 54-48 lead with 7:46 remaining.

"It was two different games," Heath said. "The first half was exactly what we wanted.

"We kept preaching, 'They're going to make a run.' Our challenge was to shut that run down."

In the final five minutes, USF never came closer than four points as the Bulls missed 10 of their final 13 shots.

"For whatever reason, we're trying to learn how to win and to play for 40 minutes and get a key defensive stop and a key defensive rebound when we need it," Heath said.

Gransberry paced the Bulls with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Bozeman, starting for an ineffective Chris Howard, added 13 points.

Bozeman entered the game in a 7-for-49 slump from 3-point range, but made three of six 3-pointers.

Dominique Jones added 11 points and six rebounds and Jesus Verdejo had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Like DePaul's second-half run, Jones didn't have any answers about the Bulls' losing streak.

"We have to learn how to finish," Jones said. "I don't even know. I don't know."

USF's bench was outscored 18-2 by DePaul's bench. In the past three games, USF's bench has been outscored 58-4.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be

reached at (813) 259-7928

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Draelon Burns had 20 of his 22 points in the second half, keying DePaul's comeback.

STAT OF THE GAME: USF sophomore PG Chris Howard's streak of consecutive starts ended at 36. Howard was benched, in part, because he was 8-for-34 in his past five games.

TURNING POINT: The final 25 minutes: USF was outscored 56-32 by DePaul.

UP NEXT: USF hosts Syracuse on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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