Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
2-8
South Florida
8-2
Bison Edged Out In First Round Of South Florida Shootout
12/28/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
TAMPA, Fla. - Altron Jackson scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket with 42 seconds left, propelling South Florida to a narrow 59-56 win over Bucknell in the opening round of the USF Shootout Friday evening at the Sun Dome.
Bucknell (2-8) threw a major scare into the Bulls, leading for nearly 15 minutes of the first half and regaining the lead in the final minute. South Florida of Conference USA improved to 8-2, with its only two losses coming to Syracuse and Florida, a pair of top-10 teams.
Boakai Lalugba's steal and dunk with 54 seconds left gave the Bison a 56-55 lead. Jackson, who moments earlier had converted a three-point play with an acrobatic leaning bankshot, put USF up for good at 57-56 with a difficult fadeaway baseline jumper with 42 seconds left.
Bryan Bailey, who led Bucknell with 16 points, turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Jackson made a pair of free throws to make it 59-56 with 11 seconds left.
Bucknell had an open look at a 3-pointer to tie it, but Lalugba's 20-footer from the left wing was short off the front iron with three seconds remaining.
The Bulls' largest lead was seven points at 46-39 after a Greg Brittian jumper with 11:48 to play. Bucknell quickly cut into that lead with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a pair of baskets by Ben Slater.
Chris Rodgers' four-point play gave Bucknell its largest lead of seven points at 21-14 with 6:16 remaining in the first half. USF closed with a 14-4 run over the final six minutes of the period to take a 28-25 lead to the locker room.
Matt Quinn, who did not start for the first time this season, scored all nine of his nine points in the opening half. Lalugba finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Brian Werner added eight boards in his first start of the year.
Will McDonald (13 points) and Greg Brittian (10) joined Jackson in double figures for USF.
Bucknell held the Bulls to 36.8 percent shooting from the field, USF's first time under 40 percent this season, while its 59 points were nine below its previous season low. USF made only 1 of 12 3-pointers.
The Bison shot 43.4 percent from the field but converted only 5 of 11 free throws.
The Bulls held a 42-33 rebounding edge, with 15 of those caroms coming on the offensive glass.
It was the first-ever meeting between Bucknell and South Florida.
Bucknell plays either Hofstra or Illinois-Chicago in the consolation game Saturday at 6 p.m.
