Dec. 7, 2006

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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - McHugh Mattis' (North Lauderdale, FL) recorded the second triple-double in the history of the Bulls' basketball program as his 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots led the University of South Florida past the Rams of Winston-Salem State University 63-43 at the C.E. Gaines Center on Thursday evening.

"He was like superman out there tonight," WSSU head coach Bobby Collins said of Mattis' triple-double that helped to rally the Bulls from a one-point halftime deficit.

Despite being undersized at every position, the Rams used an intense defensive effort to force 14 first-half USF turnovers en route to a 22-21 lead headed into the locker room at halftime. 

The first-half of play saw the Bulls dumbfounded as to how to contain WSSU sophomore forward Jamal Durham (Winston-Salem, NC) and freshman Darius Floyd (Gastonia, NC) as the duo tallied 10 points each , scoring all but two of the Rams' first-half points.

Second half action saw the Rams increase their slim one-point margin to as many as six points with 13:13 remaining in the contest as WSSU looked to be in control of the contest.

Only 45 seconds later a Mattis dunk sparked a 19-0 USF run over the span of 5:03 seconds as the Rams watched their six-point lead turn into a 13-point deficit, one from which they would never recover. 

The Bulls closed the contest on a 6-2 run to push their lead to the game's final margin of 20 points as USF improves to 5-1 with the win.  The Rams fall to 1-11 with the loss and have lost eight straight contests marking the first time since the 1996-97 season that WSSU has lost eight consecutive games. 

Mattis led all scorers with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots as he tallied USF's first triple-double since Adrian Hillman recorded 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists versus Florida Atlantic University on December 4, 1996.

Jamal Durham led the Rams with 13 points and three rebounds in the loss.  Darius Floyd was the only other Ram in double-figures as he tallied 10 points.

"We are just one good mentally-focused game away from turning the corner and really doing something special," Collins said in post game interviews.

"We weren't intimidated by a team like this, a BIG EAST conference team.  We just have to put all the pieces together, and we are getting there" he said.

The Rams return to action on Saturday, December 9 as they face the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com.

- wssurams.com -