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Aggressive Bulls Dominate Knights in 74-45 Win
- Updated: March 4, 2015
USF put together a game-opening 23-6 run and never looked back in a 74-45 rout of rival UCF at the Sun Dome on Wednesday night.
Bo Zeigler posted a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the Bulls (9-21, 3-14). Troy Holston Jr. also registered his first-career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Collins and Nehemias Morillo added 12 points apiece to help USF improve to 22-9 all-time against the Knights.
“I think we took it personal because they beat us at their place (this season),” Zeigler said. “We just wanted to come out and be aggressive early.”
The Bulls turned in their best defensive performance of the season as UCF went 14-for-53 from the field (26 percent) and made only two of 20 attempts from long range. UCF (12-17, 5-13) turned the ball over 17 times and the lone Knight in double figures was Staphon Blair with 12 points.
“Our defensive intensity, our defensive focus was extremely high today,” head coach Orlando Antigua said. “We’re absolutely going to be showing them this tape. They can do it, they just need to focus in and continue to concentrate and be there for each other.”
USF set the tone for the big victory by shooting 54 percent and playing shutdown defense on the way to a 43-23 halftime lead.
The Bulls charged out of the gates by making the first two baskets and continued on an 11-2 run with seven points from Morillo. Holston Jr.’s 3-pointer extended the advantage to 18-4 and the freshman knocked down another from beyond the arc to pump the lead up to 21-6.
“They’re finding me in good situations on the floor. I’m in rhythm more and I’m more comfortable shooting out there,” said Holston Jr., who has gone 13-for-23 from long range in the past four games.
Holston Jr. was the first player to reach double figures with a layup that extended the lead to 33-9. Coming off a career-high 22-point game at Houston, Holston Jr. continued his hot stretch with 14 points and six rebounds in the opening period. Holston Jr. has scored in double figures in six of the past seven games.
The Bulls also got solid production right away from Collins, who went 5-for-5 from the field with 10 points and four assists in the first 20 minutes. Collins finished with six assists and the junior from Houston needs 76 more to tie Reggie Kohn for first place all-time at USF.
On the other hand, UCF made just two of its first 12 shots and didn’t reach double digits until Shaheed Davis’ free throws cut the Knights’ deficit to 33-11 with 6:32 remaining in the opening period. UCF made six of 26 attempts (23 percent) and went 1-for-14 from long range in the first half with 11 turnovers.
Zeigler kept things rolling after the break by scoring USF’s first nine points to extend the lead to 52-27. The redshirt freshman from Detroit registered his first 20-point game as a Bull with a free throw that put USF ahead, 70-43, with 3:06 remaining. Five different Bulls have reached the 20-point mark in games this season.
Zeigler’s aggressive inside game helped the Bulls dominate in points in the paint by a 42-24 margin. USF is now 12-3 against the Knights in Tampa.
The Bulls wrap up the regular season 4 p.m. Saturday back at the Sun Dome against Tulane.
