TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Toarlyn Fitzpatrick scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading South Florida to a 68-55 victory over Florida Atlantic Saturday night.
Ron Anderson Jr. added 14 points and 12 rebounds for South Florida (5-2). Anthony Collins and Victor Rudd Jr. added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Freshman guard Omari Grier hit six shots from beyond the arc — five in the second half — and finished with 20 points to lead Florida Atlantic (3-4). Pablo Bertone added 11 for Owls.
USF trailed midway through the first half before a 17-2 run put the Bulls ahead 31-20. They led 39-23 at the break, then took their biggest lead early in the second half at 47-25.
FAU immediately responded with a 23-10 run capped by a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 57-48 with 5 minutes to go. The Owls outscored the Bulls 30-27 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.