TAMPA - To South Florida assistant Frank Burnell, it seemed like an intrasquad scrimmage from two years ago with his two star guards, Bradley Mosley and Chris Young, squaring off.
"Except back then, they were always on the same side," Burnell said.
The former Daytona Beach Community College standouts kick-started Monday's game between South Florida and South Alabama with a flurry of baskets. Young's 3-pointers got USA off to a hot start, but Mosley guided USF to a season-high 61.5 percent shooting as it pulled away for a 78-67 victory in the USF Holiday Classic.
USF (5-5) faces New Orleans (6-3) at 8 tonight for the title.
"This was as much of a team win as we've had all year," USF coach Robert McCullum said.
Mosley's defense and all-around game (14 points, four assists), especially in attacking USA's trapping, fullcourt defense, sparked the Bulls.
"Against the press, you kind of want to get double-teamed, as strange as that sounds," McCullum said. "If you have the strength to pass out of it, it's off to the races."
Numerous other Bulls were off to the races and earned praise.
Guard Marlyn Bryant, appearing to be back in top form after knee surgery last season and in his third start of the season, made 6 of 7 shots for a season-high 13 points.
"It was probably the best game Marlyn Bryant's had all year," McCullum said.
Center Gerrick Morris, who has been quiet since the first two home games, had six blocks and four offensive rebounds, and he altered numerous other shots.
"He gave us a big boost," McCullum said. "His play early in the second half was a big key."
Forward Sam Barber, benched last game, scored a career-high 11 on 5-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes.
"It was clearly the best game Sam Barber's had since early in the year," McCullum said.
And oh, by the way, Terrence Leather led the Bulls in scoring for the fifth time in six games with 16, had a team-high nine rebounds and added four assists. Leather also made 4-of-4 free throws during the final minute, when USF's 15-point lead dwindled to five.
"When Terrence is the fourth or fifth guy you're talking about and he had 16 and nine, that's a compliment in itself to him," McCullum said.
USA (4-5) landed a haymaker in the opening minutes, making 3-pointers on its first four possessions, including two by Young, to lead 14-5 after just 3:15.
The Bulls steadied themselves and took the lead for good late in the half. Jimmy Baxter keyed a 7-2 spurt to close the half and put USF up 37-32.
Baxter, whose production has dropped this season, was replaced by Bryant in the starting lineup. It is the first time he hasn't started this season and just the second time since the end of 2001-02.
Young finished with 14, making 4 of 9 3-pointers.
"I'm glad to see they're both doing well," Burnell said of Mosley and Young. "But we didn't want Chris to have too much success (Monday)."
New Orleans beat Texas-Arlington (4-4) 57-55 in the opening game. Johnell Smith led the Privateers with 18 points, and A.J. Meredith's steal in the final seconds preserved the victory. The consolation game is at 6.
