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Shorthanded Dons Fall in Overtime to Gonzaga, Host Portland in Finale Monday Night
Feb. 24, 2007
The USF Dons, playing shorthanded most of the way and paced by 26 points by Antonio Kellogg and 21 by Manny Quezada led late but fell to visiting Gonzaga 86-79 in overtime Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Gym.
The Dons (12-17, 7-6 WCC), without starting guard Armondo Surratt and forward Jay Watkins who were injured, were also forced to play the last four minutes without Alan Wiggins, who was whistled for his fifth foul. USF closes out the regular season Monday at 7:00 p.m. when they host Portland.
Matt Bouldin and Derek Raivio scored 21 points apiece to pace Gonzaga (20-10, 10-3)
USF led 66-63 with 2:39 remaining, but did not score while Gonzaga made three straight free-throws. Bouldin missed a potential go-ahead free throw with 6 seconds left in regulation, but Gonzaga took charge with a 10-2 run to open overtime.
Raivio hit six of Gonzaga's 10 free throws in a 20-point extra period as the Bulldogs closed out their second straight win after losing three of their previous four.
Antonio Kellogg had 26 points and seven rebounds for the Dons who still will get a top-four seed in next week's conference tournament. Manny Quezada added 21 points, and Johnny Dukes had 15 in San Francisco's loss.
Kellogg, who didn't play in the Dons' trip to Gonzaga last month for academic reasons, hit six 3-pointers and got his club in position for an upset.
The Dons were hurt by making just 15 of 23 free-throws during the contest.
Raivio coolly hit a running 3-pointer from midcourt at the halftime buzzer to put Gonzaga ahead 38-34. But the Bulldogs struggled offensively throughout the second half, and Quezada banked in a 3-pointer from three steps behind the line with 2:42 left in regulation put the Dons ahead 66-63.
Neither team could score again until Raivio hit two free throws with 45 seconds left. Bouldin had a chance to put Gonzaga ahead on two free throws with 6 seconds left -- but he missed his second shot, and Kellogg couldn't get off a shot at the regulation buzzer.
Raivio struggled to a 4-for-15 shooting performance, but was perfect on 10 free throws. Abdullahi Kuso had eight points and 11 rebounds.
