Bulls sustain losing streak

And the streak continues.

USF (10-16, 1-13) took Big East basketball to Queens, NY on Wednesday night to take on St. John’s with hopes of ending an eight-game losing streak.

But those hopes were quickly put to rest when the Red Storm (16-10, 8-6) handed the Bulls a 69-54 defeat that will push USF’s winning drought to nine games.

While USF shone in the second half, giving St. John’s a tough time, the Bulls soon made it easy for them to get out to a huge lead.

Down by 16 points at halftime with the Bulls trailing 33-17, chances at their first win in over a month were bleak.

St. John’s looked strong early, going on an 8-0 run. About five minutes in, it turned into a 14-2 run.

It wasn’t looking good for the Bulls.

But USF sophomore guard Anthony Collins sent in a basket that sparked some life into the Bulls. Collins went on to hit a three that brought the Bulls within six points.

St. John’s made sure USF didn’t get comfortable.  

An 11-0 run by the Red Storm made that clear, especially when they closed out the half on a 14-5 run.

Momentum was nonexistent for USF in the first half. 

The ball couldn’t seem to find its way in for a Bulls team that shot just 25 percent from the field.

The second half proved to be a different story for USF, as it outscored St. John’s 37-36, but it proved to be too late for a rebound — something that the Bulls may be used to after this
season.

Going 48 percent in the field and 50 percent from three-point range wasn’t enough. Even USF junior forward Victor Rudd, who scored 13 points with seven rebounds, couldn’t pump enough life into the Bulls.

Rudd finished the night as the lead scorer for USF, with 18 points, Collins coming in second with eight.

With just four minutes to go in regulation, the Bulls were within 10 points.

But as USF proved through the conference season, closing out and gaining momentum in a game has proven to be the biggest weaknesses for the Bulls. 

USF will have to wait another week before they can taste the possibility of victory. And the Bulls are in no doubt hungry for that “W.” USF still has another game on the
road, tipping off with Pittsburgh next Wednesday at 7 p.m.