USF topples No. 4 Virginia for first win over top-5 team since 1981

The University of San Francisco knocked off fourth-ranked Virginia Friday morning 61-60 to earn its first win over a top-five team in 39 years.

Jamaree Bouyea led the Dons with 19 points and six assists in the upset victory at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut in USF’s third game in less than 72 hours.

Virginia’s Sam Hauser had an open three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game, but his shot came up just short.

USF’s sharp shooting from three-point range keyed the victory, as the Dons made 9 of the 15 three-pointers they attempted in the second half. For the whole game, UCF shot 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) from three.

Bouyea’s backcourt partner, Khalil Shabazz, added 14 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from deep. He also tacked on five rebounds.

The San Francisco Dons have No. 4 Virginia on the ropes

13 threes for the Dons today pic.twitter.com/tqpTmsPRMz

— ESPN (@espn) November 27, 2020

“That’s what we talked about before the game, was finding a way to just be mentally and physically tough. Obviously, Virginia is a program that we aspire to be like,” Todd Golden said in a postgame interview with ESPN. “They’re incredibly well coached, incredibly tough. Just really proud of how our guys competed for 40 minutes.

Golden said his team was intentional to spread the floor and get out in transition to try to increase the volatility in the game against a solid opponent.

“You’ve got to let the game get up and down a little bit, take your chances,” Golden said.

He also lauded the Dons’ defense, which held the Cavaliers to only three made three-pointers.

“I think we played a great defensive game, and on the glass for 40 minutes — and gave us a chance to win,” Golden said.

The Dons have a day off in Connecticut Saturday after playing each day from Wednesday through Friday. They’ll return to the court Sunday afternoon, when they take on Rhode Island.