Santa Barbara, CA - Darrell Tucker scored 24 points and Hondre Brewer had career highs with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 8 blocks as USF (1-1) came back from a 10-point first half deficit to defeat UC Santa Barbara (0-2) Tuesday night, November 21 on the road.

"We didn't play our best game, but we fought our way through it," said Dons' head coach Philip Mathews. "Santa Barbara wanted this game badly. We knew that they would be ready to play and they played hard. We didn't match their intensity in the first half, but we did in the second. Brewer in the second half overpowered their double teams. Chris Barideaux played a great 30 minutes at the point after Jason (Gaines) went down, but senior Ali Thomas did a great job at the point after Barideaux fouled out." Thomas had six assists and no turnovers, but thye two East Bay products, Tucker and Brewer were the difference.

USF's winning points came on a slicing drive by Shamell Stallworth with 2:06 left, with Darrell Tucker's basket at the 1:10 mark providing the final margin.

The Dons shot 50% from the floor after hitting just 9 of 26 shots in the first half. On defense USF held UCSB to 40% shooting after intermission.

USF got off to a terrible start, and saw its depleted crew slip down another man. The Dons, who earlier this year lost starting point guard LyRyan Russell, saw the new starting man at the point, freshman Jason Gaines, crumple to the floor just five minutes into the contest holding his left knee. USF is also without injured guard John Cox (foot surgery) and forward Andre Brown (wrist injury).

The Dons offense sputtered making just one of its first seven shots, and with all-WCC forward Darrell Tucker in foul trouble, two fouls in just seven minutes, the offense struggled nailing just nine of 26 shots from the floor prior to intermission. Tucker had eight points in eight minutes to lead the Dons in the first half.

Santa Barbara meanwhile made 12 of 26 shots in the first half, and was called for just 7 fouls in the first half compared to 13 for the visiting Dons. Despite all the foul trouble and poor shooting, USF still trailed only by six until UCSB made the last two baskets before halftime, extending the lead to 33-23.

The Dons fought back in the second half, and playing without a point guard after Chris Barideaux fouled out, took a 59-56 lead. USF had a couple of three-point leads, but Santa Barbara fought back to take the lead on a three-point play by B.J. Ward. USF reserve forward Eugene Brown made one of two free-throws to send the game to the extra session.

The Dons travel to Hilo, Hawaii on Wednesday to play in the eight-team Big Island Invitational where they will face Long Beach State in the first round on Friday.