USF Athletics

USF Returns Home to Continue Hoosier Tip-Off Classic

November 21, 2017

Matchup: Howard (0-5) at USF (2-2)
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 22
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | USF Sun Dome (10,411
Watch: ESPN3 (Drew Fellios, Mike O'Donnell)
Radio: AM 820 | GoUSFBulls.com | Bulls Unlimited ( Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz) 
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter

TAMPA, NOV. 21, 2017 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team returns home for the first time since Nov. 12 on Wednesday night against Howard. The Bulls have played two straight road games since then, including the opener of the Hoosier Tip-Off Classic on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Indiana.

Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) led the way in the 70-53 loss to the Hoosiers, finishing with 18 points, 15 of which came in the first half. Malik Martin added a season-high 11 points and pulled down five boards.
  
THE OPPONENT 
Howard (0-5) is still searching for its first win of the season. This matchup is the fourth of four games in the Hoosier Tip-Off Classic for the Bison. Their last two losses have came at Arkansas State and at Eastern Michigan, which the Bulls will face Friday and Sunday at the Sun Dome.

The Bison are led by freshman guard R.J. Cole, who is averaging 20.6 points and 6.0 assists per game this season. His 20.6 points per game are good for third in the MEAC. Sophomore guard/forward Charles Williams has added 16.4 points per contest and is Howard's second-leading scorer.

Wednesday's game will be the first time the Bulls have met Howard, which was picked to finish eighth in the 13-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
 
NOTABLES

• USF is 61-for-75 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line this season, which is second-best in the AAC and 14^th-best among all Division I teams. The Bulls were 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in the meeting with Indiana.
• Guard Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) has hit 13-of-14 (92.9 percent) and guard Terrence Samuel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has converted on 16-of-18 attempts (88.9 percent) from the free throw line.
• Wing Payton Banks has had back-to-back 18-point efforts, leading the Bulls in scoring against both Stetson and Indiana.
• USF has allowed 66.0 points per game to opponents, the fourth-best scoring defense in the AAC.

About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, Gregory was introduced as the 10^th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory brings nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship, to Tampa.

USF has retired three numbers in its 47-year history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids and appeared in the NIT eight times.

For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.