NCAA tournament: USF falls to Murray State in OT, despite Bouyea’s big night
USF’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1998 ended with a 92-87 overtime loss to Murray State on Thursday night in Indianapolis. But it will be remembered by Dons’ fans for the performance delivered by Jamaree Bouyea.
The fifth-year senior guard from Seaside scored a career-high 36 points — second-most ever by a USF player in the NCAA tournament — and earned the respect of everyone on both teams.
Murray State coach Matt McMahon, whose seventh-seeded Racers (31-2) won their 21st straight game, called it “one of the great performances in this tournament.”
Racers guard Tevin Brown, asked to describe Bouyea’s performance, said, “One word: pro. That man can do everything. He has extreme pace to his game. He’s just all-around a very hard person to guard.”
Bouyea made just one of his first eight shots, but he warmed up to score 18 second-half points, including a step-back 3-pointer with 17.4 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 73 and force overtime. The Dons (24-10) had trailed 69-60 deficit with less than 4 minutes left.
Bouyea scored nine points in OT, before the Ohio Valley champions made just enough plays to prevail, advancing to play giant-killer St. Peter’s in Saturday’s second round. The 15th-seeded Peacocks stunned No. 2 Kentucky 85-79 in overtime earlier Thursday.
Bouyea’s final point total was more than USF legends Bill Russell or Bill Cartwright ever scored in an NCAA tournament game. Only Ollie Johnson, who had 37 in a loss to UCLA in the 1965 West Regional final, has scored more.
“Knowing this could be my last game, I just wanted to leave it all out there. That’s what I tried to do,” Bouyea said. “Didn’t make many shots in the first half, but in crunch time and overtime I didn’t want to leave any regrets out there.”
Bouyea needed to carry a heavier load than usual because the Dons played without all-conference forward Yauhen Massalski, sidelined by a knee injury. And senior guard Khalil Shabazz, who averaged 19.9 points over his previous eight games, shot just 1 for 10 and scored three points.
“We obviously haven’t been in the tournament in however long and he basically put us on his back and brought us here,” said Zane Meeks, who scored 13 points off the bench. “He’s been incredible all year, not only on the court but as a leader. One of the best guys I’ve ever been around. Great teammate, great guy.”
Bouyea climbed to No. 5 on USF’s career scoring chart with 1,718 points. Not bad for a guy who had no Division I scholarship offers until the Dons came calling.
“Jamaree’s story is special,” Golden said. “He was tasked with a tough question after last season: Do I come back or go play pro? He would have found a good home if he decided to leave.”
He will leave with no regrets, calling this “one of the best years of my life.”
“We’ve had a goal since June 15 to make the tournament,” Bouyea said. “It wasn’t believable to people outside the locker room. I think this team’s a special team.”
Golden was happy his star player — projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick in the NBA draft — had the chance to show his game to the whole country.
“It’s unfortunate because we lost, but for him to have 36 points on a national stage and he was absolutely unstoppable in the second half — they had no answer for him,” Golden said.
“I’m incredibly proud of him. I’m glad on a national setting people got to see him because he’s been doing this all year for us.”