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Bulls Stop Streak In Its Tracks

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - University of South Florida freshman Dominique Jones said he wouldn't cut his hair until the Bulls ended their 10-game losing streak. But Jones said he was confident enough to get a trim before Wednesday's game with Syracuse.

And USF got the victory.

By a hair.

Behind Jones' 29 points, the Bulls won 89-78, withstanding a furious Syracuse rally in which the Orange cut a 20-point second-half deficit to three in the final minute.

"When you look good, you play good," said Jones, who hit 10 consecutive free throws in the final 1:24 to secure the win.

For the first time since Jan. 2, USF (11-14, 2-10 Big East) had the look of a winner.

"I'm really happy for our players, to stick with it, not give up, fight, be coached and do the things we ask them to do," USF coach Stan Heath said. "That's what I feel best about."

Kentrell Gransberry added 23 points and nine rebounds for USF, while Jesus Verdejo had 19 points and Solomon Bozeman 10 points.

The Orange, who trailed 55-35 with 14 minutes remaining, still trailed 71-56 with less than six minutes left when Verdejo fumbled the ball out of bounds.

Syracuse (16-9, 6-6) responded by scoring on seven consecutive possessions. Kristof Ongenaet's 3-pointer pulled the Orange within 79-76 with 1:15 remaining.

However, Syracuse missed its next three shots and Jones and Chris Howard sealed the game with free throws. The win halted USF's losing skid, which started at Syracuse on Jan. 5.

"I see us playing 190 percent worse than Jan. 5," SU coach Jim Boeheim said. "It was a nightmare defensive game for us. They're not a bad team. You've got to play well. We did not."

USF shot 57 percent - the first time USF has shot better than 44 percent in Big East play this year.

"It won't set in until later tonight," said Gransberry, who clenched his fists and broke into a huge smile when the game ended.

Heath was able to celebrate with Darren Johnson, one of Heath's closest childhood buddies from Detroit. Johnson attended his first USF game as part of the 6,705 Sun Dome crowd.

"I told Stan before the game he'd win," Johnson said.

Heath's response? "I just looked at him and smiled."

Johnson also will attend Saturday's home game against No. 17 UConn.

"I'm the horseshoe," Johnson said. "He'll also win on Saturday."

And if the Bulls also upset UConn, Heath said he'll call Johnson's wife afterward. "I'll tell her I'm taking him on the road with us," Heath said.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be

reached at (813) 259-7928 or

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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