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Postgame Videos:
USF Coach Stan Heath
Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Eustachy
USF Players Jawanza Poland and Jarrid Famous
TAMPA- The University of South Florida men's basketball team got balanced production from across the board in a 60-53 loss on opening night to Southern Mississippi.
The Bulls led by as many as nine points with just over eight minutes remaining, but the Golden Eagles chipped away at the USF lead, eventually regaining the lead with a two-point bucket with 40 seconds remaining, and iced the game with free throw shooting down the stretch to hold on and win.
The Golden Eagles held the Bulls scoreless for the final 4:14 and without a field goal for the final 5:45 while going on a 15-0 run to end the game.
Sophomore transfer Jawanza Poland led the team in scoring with 12 points in his USF debut, going 3-9 from the field, all three baskets coming from behind the arc, where he went 3-5.
Senior forward Jarrid Famous was second on the team in scoring with 10 points and added eight rebounds, while fellow big man junior Augustus Gilchrist led the team in rebounds with 10 and also added eight points for the Bulls.
USF started slow and trailed the entire first half, only shooting 35 percent from the field. However, the Bulls went on an 8-0 run, capped by two Jawanza Poland three-pointers, at the 6:22 mark in the first half to cut the Golden Eagles' lead to two.
The Bulls went into the half trailing 32-28, but came out energized in the second stanza. Stops at the defensive end and an early 10-0 run guided the Bulls to their first lead of the game at the 15:29 mark.
After trading baskets for the majority of the second half, Southern Mississippi started to gain momentum with a number of stops on defense.
USF shot 34.6 percent from the field compared to 42 percent by Southern Miss.
Five different players made their USF debut in the loss, including Hugh Robertson who also started the game for the Bulls.
The Bulls next game will be Monday, Nov. 15 against St. Francis at 7 p.m at the USF Sun Dome.
