TAMPA – Brandon Tabb and
Quinton Forrest each scored 21 points in Bethune-Cookman's 79-73 overtime loss at South Florida Monday night.
Bo Ziegler and Jahmal McMurray each  scored 20 points as the Bulls (5-3) held the Wildcats (3-8) scoreless the final 4:17 to erase a 66-53 deficit.
Bethune-Cookman took leads of 68-66 and 70-66 on baskets by
Reggie Baker and
Josue Salaam in overtime, but the Bulls scored the next seven points to take control.
Diamante Lewis' traditional three-point play got the Wildcats to with 75-73 with 33 seconds left, but that's as close as it got.
Forrest scored 17 first-half points as the Wildcats jumped out to a 39-20 lead on Tabb's three-pointer with 5:09 left. B-CU led 44-31 at halftime.
Tabb, a junior, made five from three-point range and posted his eighth 20-point game of the season. Forrest posted his second 20-pointer of the season.
Lewis and Baker each finished with 10 points. Lewis, Baker and
Brandon Suggs each had seven rebounds while Lewis had eight assists.
HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG
"It's deflating. The guys are working hard and deserved to have something to show for it. We have to keep grinding."
We pressed them and got some turnovers, and on offense, got into a rhythm in the first half. We had the game at our pace.
"It would have been different if Brandon hadn't fouled out. That hurt us."
"Quinton's capable of knocking down jumps. Everyone played tough tonight."
QUINTONÂ FORREST
"I was getting into the basket and getting into the groove. I can hit the outside shoot if I need to."
"I feel we're one step away."
NOTES: B-CU now 1-2 in overtime this season…The Wildcats have taken their last two American Conference opponents to overtime – B-CU and UCF played an extra five minutes last December…Lewis' eight assists matched Jeffrey Altidort's eight against Trinity for a team season high.
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