Free Throws the Difference as Waves Lose

Chucky Atkins scored 18 points and had eight assists Saturday night as South Florida overcame poor shooting to open its season with a 65-58 victory over Pepperdine.

The Bulls outscored the Waves, 23-4, from the free-throw line and made five of six free throws in the final 43 seconds to hold on before 4,607 at the Sun Dome.

Pepperdine pulled within 53-50 on Marques Johnson’s three-point basket with 3:14 remaining. But James Harper and Atkins made four free throws and Luka Jovanovic’s block set up an Atkins layup that increased South Florida’s advantage to 60-52.

Atkins scored seven of the Bulls’ last 10 points and also blocked Johnson’s three-point try with 13 seconds left to seal the victory.

Although South Florida shot only 35% and missed 17 of 24 shots in the second half, the Bulls were able to overcome scoring droughts of nearly five minutes in the first half and three minutes in the second.

Pepperdine, which got 18 points from Gerald Brown and 16 from Bryan Hill, shot 43% but couldn’t take advantage of the Bulls’ poor shooting.

Harper had 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for South Florida.