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USF offense can't keep up with defense on loss to Lancers
 Tues., Feb. 4, 2003

   Defensively, University of Saint Francis Coach Jeff Rekeweg had mostly praise for the Cougars after Tuesday night’s game at Hutzell Athletic Center. If only the offense had followed the lead of the defense.

   Grace pulled away in the last 7:37 of the game to secure a 63-49 win on a night where the USF offense couldn’t pry the lid off the basket with a crowbar, though senior guard Jontae James scored 13 points to lead USF and become the 20th Cougar to score 1,000 or more points in a career. He now has 1,002.

   The Lancers (17-8, 5-4 Mid-Central Conference) used an 8-0 spurt in the last 4:47 of the first half to take control and withstood one steady charge from the Cougars in the second half to sweep the season series. Rekeweg felt pretty good about the effort of his young team in spite of the final result.

   “Our defensive execution was probably about as good as we’ve had all year,” Rekeweg said as he loosened his tie. “We held (Matt) Abernathy to 10 points and forced some of their other players to shoot who aren’t that comfortable in that roll. We had open looks on offense, we got shots we wanted, but their was a lid on the basket and we just couldn’t overcome it.”

   USF (12-15, 2-7 MCC) went 0-for-12 from 3-point range. The Cougars are shooting 36 percent for the season from beyond the arc, but John Gensic went 0-for-4, Nick Ankenbruck went 0-for-4, Zach Beiswanger went 0-for-3 and Dusty Beucler 0-for-1. GC outscored USF 18-0 from 3-point range.

   Cleevas Craig added 12 points for USF and Chase Holden had 11 points and 11 rebounds. But while Craig and James hit a combined 11-of-15 shots, the rest of the Cougars managed to hit just 9-of-42 shots.

   “We started off good, made some stops early,” Rekeweg recalled.

   Then, with the score tied at 16, USF’s shooting touch went into the deep freeze and Grace pulled out to a 24-16 lead at the half. The Cougars led 9-5 early, but missed several chances to add to the lead.

    The Lancers pushed the lead to 29-16 early in the second half, but USF outscored GC 22-11 to climb to within 2, 40-38, with 7:37 to play. It was as close as the Cougars came in the second half. GC outscored USF 23-11 in the time remaining to improve to 7-5 on the road while USF slipped to 8-4 at HAC.

 -- GO USF --

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