TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Freshman guard Solomon Bozeman scored a career-high 24 points as the University of South florida men's basketball team beat Bethune-Cookman 82-49 on Sunday.

Melvin Buckley added 13 points for South Florida (9-5), which opens Big East Conference play Tuesday at No. 12 Connecticut.

Bethune-Cookman (2-8), which has lost seven straight games, got 10 points from Dewayne Pettus. Jimmy Hudson, who entered averaging a team-best 14.9 points, was held to eight points.

Bozeman had a four-point play to put South Florida up 32-13 with 7:42 left in the first half. He was fouled while making a 3-point jumper and then made the ensuing free throw.

South Florida went ahead 65-38 with 9:17 to play after Bozeman hit four consecutive free throws after Bethune-Cookman coach Cliff Reed was given two technical fouls and ejected for arguing with the referees.

Bozeman went 4-for-5, all from 3-point range, from the field. He also made 12 of 13 free throws.