No. 24 Seton Hall wastes lead, loses at South Florida
TAMPA, Fla. -- Seton Hall's first venture into the Top 25 in 11 years likely will be a short one.
The No. 24 Pirates squandered a 10-point lead over the final six minutes against South Florida on Friday, and Jordan Theodore missed a key free throw in the closing seconds of a 56-55 loss.
Ron Anderson scored 14 points, six during a game-ending 14-3 run that gave South Florida (10-8, 3-2 Big East) its first win over a ranked opponent in nearly two years. Jawanza Poland's long 3-pointer tied it at 53 and Toaryln Fitzpatrick's three-point play with just under a minute to go put the Bulls ahead for good.
Theodore, who scored 16 points, is an 82-percent free-throw shooter, but the senior missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 3.8 seconds left with a chance to put Seton Hall (15-3, 4-2) ahead.
■ Creighton 87, Illinois State 78 -- At Normal, Ill., Doug McDermott scored 20 points as the No. 23 Bluejays (15-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley) earned an 87-78 victory over Illinois State.
The Bluejays led by four in the final minute when Illinois State freshman Johnny Hill was given two technicals. Fans then littered the court with debris, causing a third technical to be called on the Redbirds (11-6, 3-3). Creighton made five free throws for the final margin.
