The USF Bulls (23-13) have set a record for wins in a season, knocking off DePaul 63-61 on Monday night at the Yuengling Center to claim a win in the first game of the Best-of-Three CBI Finals. The twenty-third win for the Bulls this season sets a new school record for wins in a single season.
After DePaul tied the game with 7.3 seconds to go a three-pointer from Eli Cain, it was sophomore David Collins coming away with the big play to clinch the win. He scored the game winning floater with 1.6 seconds to go to lift the Bulls to the win over the Blue Demons by splitting two defenders on a high screen to get into the lane. DePaul got it past midcourt in the game's final play but Cain's shot did not hit the rim.
The Bulls were led by 23 points from Collins,they also got 15 points (including nine in the second half) from Laquincy Rideau, and ten points and eight rebounds from Alexis Yetna. USF was leading 31-25 at halftime of this game, and led by 11 with eleven minutes to go in the second half, but DePaul answered to tie the game late and force the heroics from David Collins. DePaul was led by 19 points from Eli Cain, including the three-pointer in the final moments to tie the game.
The Bulls and Blue Demons now meet in the second game of the best of three series on Wednesday night in Chicago. Tipoff from McGrath-Phillaps Arena in Chicago will be at 8 PM on Wednesday night - if necessary, game three of the best of three series would take place at 7 PM on Friday night at the same location.
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