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Bulls Outlast Spartans

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2008

TAMPA - It seemed like 1989 all over again. There's a Bush in the White House and the University of South Florida was struggling against the pesky little Division II University of Tampa Spartans.

And just like 1989, the Bulls were once again too much for UT on Monday night. Jesus Verdejo had 27 points as the Bulls pulled away for a 79-64 exhibition victory in the teams' first meeting in 19 years.

The Spartans, picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Sunshine State Conference, trailed 39-38 early in the second half. With 9:30 remaining, USF's lead was still only 57-51 when the Bulls went on a 17-3 run to put the contest away.

"I give our team some credit," USF coach Stan Heath said. "We bounced back in the second half, we had some nice runs, we fixed our defense and took the rhythm away from them."

USF's Chris Howard added 18 points and five assists. Dominique Jones (2-for-10 from the field) had 11 assists and eight points.

"I was disappointed in our effort, our defense," Howard said. "I didn't think we got after it tonight. That's something I know from being here four years, defense is going to win games.

"We didn't play as if it was a Big East game, against a Marquette or a UConn. We have to learn how to do that - to go into every game with a mind-set to play at a certain level."

Rashad Callaway paced UT with 16 points.

DUKE 80, PRESBYTERIAN 49: Kyle Singler scored 12 of his 19 points during the decisive first half as No. 8 Duke opened its season with a rout in the first round of the 2K Sports Classic.

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