Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Senior night one big party for prolific pair

USF 88, HOUSTON 57: Waldon and Jackson combine for 54 points and a lasting memory.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 27, 2002

TAMPA -- If the last memory is the strongest and lingers the longest, South Florida fans forever will savor the performances of B.B. Waldon and Altron Jackson.

In the final home game of their illustrious careers, the most prolific duo in USF history had their best simultaneous game of the season and one of the best of their careers as the Bulls pounded undermanned Houston 88-57 Tuesday night.

Waldon had 26 points and 18 rebounds, becoming USF's all-time leading rebounder, and Jackson, Conference USA's all-time leading scorer, had a season-high 28 points as USF improved to 18-10, 8-7.

"It was great," said Waldon, who passed Hakim Shahid's career total of 894 rebounds with his 15th against Houston. "We wanted to go out with a big win."

"Our last game (at the Sun Dome), the fans have been behind us all year, we just wanted to leave on a high note," said Jackson, who had scored at least 20 along with Waldon once previously this season. "It's like that last paper you write. Make it good."

Jackson and Waldon, along with senior center Mike Bernard, made it great. Waldon, whose gimpy knees have impaired him since December, looked spry, setting a single-game personal best for rebounds and hitting a season-high 3 of 4 3-pointers.

Jackson came out gunning, scoring 19, including three 3-pointers, in the first half.

And Bernard, a junior college transfer who has been outstanding off the bench the second half of the season, had a vicious dunk and blocked shot in his first start.

"There was a little emotion flying around. ... I love playing here. I'll miss it," Bernard said. "I just wish my parents (who live in his native England) could have been here."

"I'll be your dad," Waldon said.

Houston (15-13, 8-7) was like a made-to-order homecoming opponent. The Cougars were missing four starters who were suspended after Saturday's game at East Carolina: Guard Kevin Gaines was arrested in Greenville, N.C., and charged with assault, and Dominic Smith, Louis Truscott and Marcus Oliver also are suspended indefinitely. Still, USF, inspired from start to finish, played arguably its best game since Dec. 1, when it beat California 79-59.

"I put on the board, "You only get one senior night, make it special.' I couldn't have envisioned it more special," USF coach Seth Greenberg said. "They had senior nights they are going to remember.

"They seized the moment."

After starting the season 12-3, USF lost seven of its next 12 and, presumably, slipped off the NCAA Tournament bubble.

The Bulls hope Tuesday's celebratory rout in front of 4,531, coupled with a win in Saturday's season finale at Southern Miss, can give them the surge of confidence to make a run in next week's C-USA tournament at Cincinnati.

"We needed a feel-good game, there's no doubt about it," Greenberg said. "It sure gives us momentum going into (Southern Miss) and the conference tournament." Waldon's rejuvenation wasn't a complete surprise to the team. He had been bypassing practice in recent weeks because of his knees, but he went hard Monday.

"We need him to be dominating (like he was Tuesday) for four nights in Cincinnati," Greenberg said. "There might just be a little magic left in those knees."

With Houston playing with essentially six players, USF led from the outset. The Bulls held a 42-30 halftime advantage and pulled away from there, forcing 26 turnovers.

Junior point guard Reggie Kohn had nine assists, giving him 200 on the season, the most in school history.

But Tuesday was about the seniors and as fine a senior night as could be imagined.

"These people won't be able to see us play on this court, at this university again," Waldon said. "They'll be missing us and we'll be missing them."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright