Box Score With a starting a front line of 6-7, 6-8 and 6-10, the University of South Florida had too much of a size advantage for the Moccasins to overcome and the Bulls dealt FSC a 73-43 setback Wednesday night at the Lakeland Center in the Moccasins' season opener.
The win was USF's third straight to start the season.
A cold-shooting first half hurt the Moccasins, as they shot just 18.4 percent from the field (7-38) and made just one of 13 from three-point range, allowing USF to build a halftime advantage of 33-16.
Things improved for the Moccasins in the second half, though, as Brett Bailey and Kevin Capers combined for 19 of their 25 points. Bailey went 6-11 from the field and finished the night with 12 points. Capers, with 11 second-half points, finished with a team-high 13. The Moccasins' shooting improved to 34.4 percent in the second half, as they hit 11 of 32 from the field. However, the three-point shots never did fall and the Moccasins ended the game hitting just one of 20.
The Division I Bulls were led by 6-10 Augustus Gilchrist, who had 15 points and nine rebounds. Ron Anderson Jr., at 6-8, led the Bulls' rebounding effort with 11. Blake Nash came off the bench to score 13 and 6-8 Toarlyn Fitzpatrick tossed in 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. The Bulls had a 53-35 rebounding edge, shot 48.3 percent from the field (29-60) and hit seven of 14 three-pointers.
The Moccasins play their home opener Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Jenkins Field House against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.
