High Point Gives USF Unexpected Trouble

High Point? Not for the University of South Florida.

Someone forgot to tell the High Point Panthers they were supposed to be an easy nonconference victory for USF. Instead the Panthers put a scare into the Bulls before USF pulled away late for a 59-44 victory Tuesday.

"It's not like we win 20 games every year," said junior Chris Howard, who led USF with 14 points and four assists. "We took some losses in the past, so to come out and say we didn't know it or took them lightly, that's just an excuse basically for us to say that."

The Panthers, who moved to Division I only 10 years ago, were picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Big South Conference. With five minutes remaining, the Panthers (1-3) only trailed 47-44.

However, USF (2-1) scored 11 consecutive points to seal the victory.

"We picked up our defensive intensity in the second half," Aris Williams said. "We were lackadaisical in the first half, definitely."

Jesus Verdejo had 12 points, while Williams added a career-high 11 points and six rebounds. Eladio Espinosa had nine points and 10 rebounds, and Dominque Jones had nine points and six rebounds.

"I really feel like if the name doesn't have the BCS conference name on it, it tends to make us think it will be a game we should handle pretty easily," USF coach Stan Heath said. "We can't have that mentality. We have to change that. Hopefully we learned that lesson today."

With the game out of reach in the closing minute, the only suspense remaining was if the Bulls would score 60 points, which would earn each fan a free movie ticket.

With the Bulls leading 58-44 with 23 seconds remaining, a few dozen USF students agonized when freshman walk-on Mitch Emory missed two free throws. They had another opportunity with 18 seconds remaining when Williams was fouled.

Williams hit the first free throw, but missed the second, much to the dismay of the student section.

High Point led by as many as seven in the first half and 28-24 at halftime before Williams keyed a 13-6 run to open the second half.