USF wins with slow-going style

Posted Feb 27, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Feb 27, 2012 at 04:16 PM

The University of South Florida Bulls defeated Cincinnati 46-45 in Sunday’s Big East Conference thriller. It was the 559th victory in the history of USF men’s basketball.

And it was also the second-lowest scoring game ever by a winning USF men’s team.

USF’s all-time low-point record: The Bulls defeated Jacksonville University 42-38 on Feb. 25, 1984 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Sunday’s victory against Cincinnati was USF’s lowest-scoring effort since Nov. 30, 1997, when the Bulls defeated Rice 49-46.

USF runs the shot clock to its limit. It plays great defense. It contests practically every shot. And it wins.

“They do what they do,’’ Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “And they do it very well.’‘