Two big first-half runs carry Michigan State to a 73-60 win, handing USF its fourth loss in a row.
By DARRYL MELLEMA
Published December 17, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It wasn't South Florida's opening drought that doomed the Bulls in their 73-60 loss to Michigan State on Tuesday.
It was the next drought that sealed South Florida's fate and sent it to its fourth loss in a row.
"We're definitely not happy," USF junior Terrence Leather said. "We came out soft in the first half. We showed passion and heart in the second half."
USF (3-4) spotted Michigan State (4-4) the first eight points of a lead that grew to 18-4 eight minutes in. The Bulls' points in that stretch were baskets by Bradley Mosley and James Holmes.
USF rallied midway though the half thanks to Mosley and Leather. Mosley had nine points in the first half and Leather eight.
When Mosley hit a breakaway layup with 6:46 left in the half, the Bulls were within 24-18.
From that point, USF scored only on a Leather free throw. Michigan State finished the half on an 18-1 run, culminating with a 3-point basket by Kevin Torbert as time expired.
"We just didn't come out ready to play," Leather said. "Then they hit us and they hit us hard."
The Bulls got what first-half offense they managed on first-chance shots. USF shot 27 percent in the half, had eight turnovers to three assists and was outrebounded 22-14.
"We tried some different things," USF coach Robert McCullum said. "We went with a different lineup, a bigger lineup. From the first possession, we weren't clicking. Obviously Michigan State had a lot to do with that."
Mosley and Leather were the USF offense. Leather finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Mosley ended with 23 points.
"We always want to go out there and win," Mosley said. "We competed tonight but we didn't come out with a "W.' That's what matters the most."
Jimmy Baxter struggled again. For the second time this season and the third time in his USF career, Baxter did not score.
"I don't know why we got off to such a start," McCullum said. "Jimmy Baxter didn't score. That certainly didn't help the situation."
Early in the second half, Michigan State's offensive woes returned and USF took advantage. The Bulls opened with five minutes of inspired basketball and outscored the Spartans 15-1. The run culminating in a Brian Swift 3-pointer with 15:18 left to cut the deficit to 43-34 and force Spartans coach Tom Izzo to call timeout.
Mosley scored eight in the run, including two 3-pointers.
Michigan State missed the only two shots it took during the run.
Torbert scored the next six for Michigan State as the lead grew to 51-36 and never dipped below 10 the rest of the game. Torbert led Michigan State with 17 points.
USF's shooting improved markedly in the second half, and the Bulls made up some of the rebounding disparity. For the game, USF shot 41 percent and was outrebounded 39-27.
Both teams entered needing a victory. Michigan State has lost to four ranked opponents, Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma and Kentucky.
"We felt confident that if we got up on a team like this, we could put them away," Izzo said. "It was a win. We needed a win. There were some positives, but there were some negatives that seemed to be rearing their ugly head again."
