USF Defeats IPI 81-50; Face Sacramento State in Final

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)(December 3) -- James Lee and Darrell Tucker each scored 16 points Friday night to lead San Francisco into the championship game of the Northwestern Mutual Classic as the Dons pulled away early to beat Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis, 81-50.

USF will face Sacramento State on Saturday night in the final. The Hornets beat The Citadel, 74-61 earlier in a first-round game.

Lee, who came within a point of equaling his career high and had a game-high 10 rebounds, was instrumental in two Dons scoring drives in both halves.

He scored seven points in the first half as USF used four 3-pointers to put together a 30-13 run to close out the half. Then Lee scored half of the Dons' 14 points to open the second half as they held the Jaguars to one field goal in the spurt.

Darell Tucker had 13 points for USF (4-1), which won its fourth consecutive game.

IPI is still without a win this season in five games. The Jaguars have lost nine consecutive games, going back to last season. Matt Hermes had 14 points for the Jaguars, while Don Carlisle had 13 point sand Charles Price had 11.

The Dons led 36-18 at the half, but after the Jaguars opened the second half with two consecutive baskets, Lee and USF opened the lead to 50-24 with 15 minutes and seven seconds remaining in the game.

The Dons, who finished with 51 percent shooting for the night, displayed a hot hand particularly in the second half, connecting on 14 of their 23 shots for 61 percent.