Feb. 28, 2003

Box Score

Darrell Tucker scored 29 points, including two three-point plays in the last two minutes to pace USF to a 75-69 West Coast Conference victory against Loyola Marymount Friday night in Los Angeles. The win clinches at least a tie for third place for USF, who improved to 13-13 overall and 8-5 in West Coast Conference play.

Tucker's heroics started when USF led by just one, 61-60 with 1:52 remaining. He pushed in a layup and was fouled by Chris Ayer to put the Dons up 64-60 after he made his free-throw. After LMU's Andy Osborn nailed a three-point bucket to pull the Lions to within one, Tucker again scored and was fouled to put USF ahead 69-65 with 42 seconds left. Shamell Stallworth then nailed four free-throws to put USF in control. Tucker led USF with eight rebounds.

Tucker was 11-21 from the floor and added eight rebounds, while James Bayless added 12 points and John Cox and Stallworth 10 each. USF shot 52.9% from the floor.

LMU, paced by 12 points each by Sherman Gay, Charles Osborn and Andy Osborn, dropped to 10-18, 4-9 in league play. The win by USF snapped LMU's two game home win streak, that included a 80-74 over Gonzaga.

The win clinched at least a tie for third place in the West Coast Conference and a top-four seed in the WCC tournament, which gives them a first round bye. By beating Pepperdine Saturday, USF will clinch a third place seed and avoid defending champion Gonzaga until the final game. Should the Waves win Saturday, they would win the tiebreaker for the third seed and USF would be seeded fourth.

USF led 35-30 despite a slow start that saw the Dons turn the ball over 10 times before the half. Coach Phil Mathews shook up the starting lineup with James Bayless starting in place of Shamell Stallworth. Tucker paced the Dons, who shot 59% before intermission with 12 points.

The Dons trailed 28-22 with 6:49 remaining in the half, but finished the period on a 13-2 run.