Dons Win Consolation Match, 87-70
Quezada scores 29, Lowhorn posts a double-double

box score

(Norman, OK) - Junior guard Manny Quezada poured in a game-high 29 points and sophomore forward Dior Lowhorn added 19 points and 12 rebounds powering USF to a 87-70 victory against East Central in the 2007 2K Sports College Hoops Classic Consolation Game Friday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center. The Dons (1-1) converted on .429 (9-21) from beyond the arc and limited the Division II Tigers (0-2) to .324 (24-74) from the field.

After another big night against East Central, Quezada is now averaging 21.0 points per game, while Lowhorn leads the Dons with 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game after collecting his first career double-double in the Green and Gold. Senior guard Danny Cavic enjoyed a solid night scoring 14 points on 4-of-6 from the floor, including a perfect 3-of-3 from long distance to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.

San Francisco closed the opening period with a scoring flurry, fueled by six straight points off lay-ups from Quezada in the final 40 seconds. The Dons took a 38-25 lead into the intermission after closing on an 11-3 run over the final 3:23. USF opened up an early 5-0 lead. ECU bounced back to take its only lead of the half at 12-11 at 12:52, but USF pushed its lead to eight points, 22-14 with 7:10 left on a Lowhorn bucket.

East Central closed to within two points, 22-20 with 5:41 remaining but the Dons responded to out-score the Tigers 16-3 from there. Lowhorn led all scorers with 12 points and six rebounds at recess, while Quezada added 11 points in the first 20 minutes.

After halftime, the Dons thwarted several ECU runs and built a comfortable lead it would not surrender. Quezada went on a scoring binge in the final 20 minutes of regulation, tossing in 18 points.

USF returns to action when it hosts Sacramento State Saturday, November 17 in its 2007-08 home opener. Game time against the Hornets is set for 7:00 PM at War Memorial Gym.