NASHVILLE – No, the shot clock wasn't broken. It just seemed that way at times as South Florida won a turgid contest against Temple on Friday night, 58-44.
South Florida advanced to Sunday's third-round game against Ohio despite making only three -- yes, only three -- field goals in the first half.
"I know sometimes we struggle on offense, but I've never seen us struggle that bad," said South Florida coach Stan Heath.
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But the key for the Bulls, Heath said, is that "This team has been exceptional at not letting some offensive woes affect what they're doing on the defensive end."
Which was why Temple wasn't much better in the first 20 minutes, making just five field goals. The Owls took a 19-15 lead into the locker room, but it didn't last long when play resumed.
South Florida (22-13) came out firing, and took a 36-25 lead it never lost by making nine of its first 11 shots.
"Even for my eyes, I couldn't believe how well we shot the ball and scored in the second half," Heath said. "We just kept feeding that energy. We rode it out."
Victor Rudd Jr. and Anthony Collins shared scoring honors for South Florida with 17 apiece, and the Bulls dominated on the offensive boards, 14-6.
But it was two three-pointers by Toarlyn Fitzpatrick early in the second half that seemed to loosen up South Florida and get the flow going.
"I just think the basket looked a lot larger in the second half," Fitzpatrick said.
The second-half explosion was in stark contrast to the Bulls' errant shooting in the first half, when they were 3-for-27 (11.1%). They scored two quick baskets at the outset, then nearly 16 minutes passed before they hit their third.
Once the 12th-seeded Bulls' offense was righted they thrived with the same smothering defense that held California to 13 first-half points in their first-round game.
Fifth-seeded Temple can definitely relate to Cal's frustration. Its 44 points were a season low, and by plenty. The Owls' previous low was 64, against Bowling Green, in November.
Temple (24-8) led by 19-8 with 6:34 left in the first half, but then didn't score the rest of the half. Over the final 26 minutes, the Owls were outscored 50-25 in a late game that was played in front of a sparse crowd.
Khalif Wyatt poured in a game-high 19 points for the Owls, and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson had a 10-point, 9-rebound game. Ramone Moore, Temple's leading scorer with a 17.7-point average, was held to five points.
South Florida advanced to Sunday's third-round game against Ohio despite making only three -- yes, only three -- field goals in the first half.
"I know sometimes we struggle on offense, but I've never seen us struggle that bad," said South Florida coach Stan Heath.
MORE: More madness: No. 15 Lehigh beats No. 2 Duke
MORE: Is Norfolk State's upset the best of the best?
PHOTOS: Shots from tournament upsets
But the key for the Bulls, Heath said, is that "This team has been exceptional at not letting some offensive woes affect what they're doing on the defensive end."
Which was why Temple wasn't much better in the first 20 minutes, making just five field goals. The Owls took a 19-15 lead into the locker room, but it didn't last long when play resumed.
South Florida (22-13) came out firing, and took a 36-25 lead it never lost by making nine of its first 11 shots.
"Even for my eyes, I couldn't believe how well we shot the ball and scored in the second half," Heath said. "We just kept feeding that energy. We rode it out."
Victor Rudd Jr. and Anthony Collins shared scoring honors for South Florida with 17 apiece, and the Bulls dominated on the offensive boards, 14-6.
But it was two three-pointers by Toarlyn Fitzpatrick early in the second half that seemed to loosen up South Florida and get the flow going.
"I just think the basket looked a lot larger in the second half," Fitzpatrick said.
The second-half explosion was in stark contrast to the Bulls' errant shooting in the first half, when they were 3-for-27 (11.1%). They scored two quick baskets at the outset, then nearly 16 minutes passed before they hit their third.
Once the 12th-seeded Bulls' offense was righted they thrived with the same smothering defense that held California to 13 first-half points in their first-round game.
Fifth-seeded Temple can definitely relate to Cal's frustration. Its 44 points were a season low, and by plenty. The Owls' previous low was 64, against Bowling Green, in November.
Temple (24-8) led by 19-8 with 6:34 left in the first half, but then didn't score the rest of the half. Over the final 26 minutes, the Owls were outscored 50-25 in a late game that was played in front of a sparse crowd.
Khalif Wyatt poured in a game-high 19 points for the Owls, and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson had a 10-point, 9-rebound game. Ramone Moore, Temple's leading scorer with a 17.7-point average, was held to five points.
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