Deflection Basket Beats Toreros, 56-55

The University of San Diego lost a 56-55 decision in strange fashion to South Florida here Friday night in the first round of the Longhorn Tournament.

South Florida (4-3) scored the winning basket with eight seconds left when a missed free throw by Martin Teal was deflected off the hands of USD’s James Knight and went through the hoop. South Florida was credited with a team basket on the play.

The Toreros missed a chance to win it when Mark Bostic’s 30-footer at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

USD, which led throughout the second half by as many as six points, had a 55-54 lead and was trying to run out the clock when a South Florida player deflected the ball. Knight was called for a foul in the scramble for the loose ball, setting up Teal’s missed free throw and the bizarre play that followed.

Bostic led USD (5-4) with 15 points. Mark Manor scored 12 and Scott Thompson added 11.

Teal scored 16 to lead the winners.

“We could have played better,” said USD Coach Hank Egan. “We were coming off exams and we were sluggish. Still, we hung in there tough, but had a couple of tough calls go against us.”

USD will play Alaska Anchorage, a 68-57 loser to Texas, at 4 p.m. today in the consolation game. Texas and South Florida will play at 6 p.m. for the championship.