Jan. 18, 2006

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After 37 days without a home game, USF returned home on January 16th and defeated St. Mary's 53-52 in a thriller. The game was not decided until the final buzzer when USF's Alan Wiggins swatted away a lay-up attempt by Diamon Simpson.

The Dons (6-10, 2-1 WCC) are at home again this weekend, hosting Portland (8-10, 2-2 WCC) Saturday (KQKE, 7:00 PM) and eighth ranked Gonzaga (14-3, 4-0 WCC) Monday night (KICU-TV, KQKE, 8:00 PM).

USF's two WCC wins have come against teams that they failed to defeat last year, Pepperdine and St. Mary's. The lone league loss came against LMU, who USF lost to in double overtime this year after two last-second losses last season.

USF had better luck last season with this week's opponents, topping Portland three times and splitting with Gonzaga. The Zags earned the win last season on a last minute jumper by Adam Morrison in GU's tightest game in their new building.

The Dons are home for two more and four of the next six. In fact, the Dons do not leave the Bay Area again until February 11th, a span of six games.

The Dons are now 2-1 in the league, trailing only Gonzaga (4-0) and Loyola Marymount (3-1) after earning a split of its weekend set in Los Angeles in the opening week.

WCC STARS IN LAST BAY APPEARANCES: This Saturday-Monday home series will provide Bay Area fans' with perhaps their last looks at two of the more high profile league stars in recent years in Portland's Pooh Jeter and Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista. SURRATT, WIGGINS CLOSE OUT WIN OVER GAELS: After suffering through two hard luck losses to St. Mary's last season, USF defeated St. Mary's 53-52 at Memorial Gymnasium Monday night. The Dons led 31-29 at the half in a game that featured seven second half lead changes. USF was up late by one point at 51-50 but lost a chance to build on its lead when Armondo Surratt and Alan Wiggins, Jr. missed front ends of one-and-ones in the last 30 seconds allow the Gaels to go ahead 52-51 with :17 left. That is when Surratt took things into his own hands driving the lane and nailing a short shot with nine seconds left. St. Mary's still had a chance to win it but Wiggins swatted away their last field goal attempt at the buzzer. USF was led by 14 points by Jerome Gumbs (his highest total since Dec. 3) and 13 by Alan Wiggins. Wiggins had a great line adding nine rebounds and four blocks. The win ended a four-game win streak by St. Mary's in the series. FIVE THAT GOT AWAY: The Dons might have had a better record if they had closed out the five games below that slipped away.

11/26: USF lost to Sacramento State 85-78. The Dons trailed by just two with under 1:45 left before having to foul to get the ball back.

11/30: USF lost to Pacific 75-71 in overtime. The Dons led this one 67-66 with :30 left before the game went into overtime.

12/6: USF lost to Wichita State 75-67 after leading by three (63-60) with 3:42 remaining.

12/21: USF lost to Northern Arizona 70-66 after leading 66-65 with less than a minute left. USF missed a shot with :06 for the tie before fouling.

1/9: USF lost to Loyola Marymount 84-75 in double overtime after missing two shots in the last 10 seconds to win the game in regulation. USF also missed a long shot at the end of the first overtime to win it.

USF - WHAT'S UP SO FAR: It has been a roller-coaster ride for USF this season. The Dons started off losing four of its first five, before rebounding and winning three out of four (at home). But then USF dropped a tough game at Marquette, two games at the ASU Hoops Classic and another tight game at Fresno State before winning the league opener and falling last to LMU in two overtimes before the St. Mary's win. Four USF players are now averaging in double figures; Alan Wiggins, Jr. (13.7), Armondo Surratt (13.6 ppg.) guard Dommanic Ingerson (10.3) and forward Jerome Gumbs (10.1). Center Jason Wallace-Carter (8.8) is next in the scoring race.

USF went with a new lineup at Fresno State which also began the Pepperdine and LMU contests, starting forwards Vince Polakovic and Alan Wiggins, Jr. at the forwards and guards Dommanic Ingerson, Armondo Surratt and Danny Cavic at the guards, but Coach Evans switched the lineup again for St. Mary's. Against the Gaels, he started freshman Jesse Byrd and DSavny Cavic at the forwards, Wiggins at center and Armondo Surratt and Jerome Gumbs at the guard slot.