Jan. 28, 2012
Final Stats
(San Francisco, CA) - The USD Toreros received a season-high 17 points from junior forward Ken Rancifer, but it wasn't enough as the Toreros dropped an 84-70 contest to the USF Dons at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Toreros didn't have an answer for the powerful inside game of Dons' forward Perris Blackwell who poured in 26 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. USF improves to 10-2 in home games this season, 15-9 overall and 5-5 in league. Johnny Dee added 13 points in the losing cause for the Toreros (8-13, 3-6 WCC).
USD held a 40-36 intermission lead on the strength of 54.8% shooting from the field (17-31). Johnny Dee scored 8 of his 13 in the first half, with Rancifer and Dennis Kramer each chipping in with 7 points. The second half was a different story for the Toreros as they managed to connect on just 11-of-25 shots (44%) while the Dons blistered the nets at a 65.2% clip (15-23).
USF took their first lead of the second half on a Michael Williams lay-up to make it 50-48 with 16:38 to go. A Rancifer three-point play put the Toreros back up 51-50, but Blackwell answered with a bucket inside and USF would hold onto the lead the rest of the way. USF would eventually increase the lead to 16 with 3:25 to go before settling for the 14-point victory. Besides the inside presence of Blackwell, the Dons received 20 points from guard Michael Williams who canned 6-of-11 shots, including 4-6 behind the arc.
For the game the Toreros shot 50.9% (28-55) and made 6-of-13 treys, but lost the rebounding war, 34-30. Dennis Kramer chipped in with 9 points and 9 rebounds, and guard Christopher Anderson tallied 9 points and 4 assists.
The Toreros return to the bay area on Thursday to face the Saint Mary's Gaels in a 7pm game on February 2nd. Next Saturday the Toreros will host Santa Clara at the JCP in a 4:00 p.m. contest.
