Game Stats PDF | Season Stats

NEWARK, N.J. - The University of South Florida men's basketball team dropped their BIG EAST opener to Seton Hall 64-55 on Tuesday night.

The loss is the third in a row and the Bulls' fourth in the past five games. USF falls to 6-8 on the season and 0-1 in league play. 

USF is now 1-5 in their six BIG EAST openers since joining the conference in 2005.

The Bulls failed to outrebound the Pirates on the night, as both teams pulled down 30 boards apiece, marking just the second time this season that USF did not outrebound their opponent. The only other time USF did not outrebound the opponent was in a Dec. 4 loss to Florida Atlantic.

Hugh Robertson earned the start again against the Pirates, and led the Bulls with 14 points on 6-12 shooting while also pulling down three boards. The double-digit scoring effort was the fourth straight for Robertson.

Since rejoining the team, junior Augustus Gilchrist has scored 12 points off the bench in both contests, including the double-digit effort tonight against the Pirates. The big man also earned four rebounds on the night.

Jarrid Famous also scored in double-digits for the Bulls on Tuesday, scoring 11 and collecting seven rebounds.

USF struggled to take care of the ball as they committed 15 turnovers on the night, compared to just 11 from Seton Hall.

Robertson led the Bulls' balanced scoring attack with six points in the first half, while four other players added four points apiece – Ron Anderson Jr., Famous, Jawanza Poland and Gilchrist.  Famous and Gilchrist each pulled down three rebounds in the first period as well.

USF broke the seal on the scoring just 15 seconds into the game with a bucket from Robertson. The Bulls led by as many as four, but SHU took the 13-11 advantage for the Pirates' first lead of the game halfway through the first stanza, as the Bulls were held without a field goal for five minutes. Robertson ended the first half scoring for USF with a three to tie the game at 24, but SHU drove to the hoop for a layup to give the Pirates the 26-24 advantage at the half.

Seton Hall jumped out their largest lead of the night, 35-28, early in the second half, and continued to outscore the Bulls, taking a 10-point lead, 46-36. Six-straight points from Gilchrist brought the Bulls back into the game, drawing the score to 52-48 with five minutes left in the second period. Seton Hall hit four-straight free throws before a jumper by Robertson notched the score at 56-50.

Famous scored five points in the final two minutes, but it was not enough as the Bulls dropped their BIG EAST season opener.

USF continues league play on New Year's eve as they face No. 4 Connecticut in Storrs.

Game Notes

- USF starters Anthony Crater, Jawanza Poland, Hugh Robertson, Ron Anderson Jr., Jarrid Famous.

- The Bulls are 1-5 in BIG EAST openers and in BIG ESAT road openers.

-  Seton Hall and USF each grabbed 30 rebounds, only the second time this season that the Bulls did not outrebound their opponents to do so this season, in addition to FAU on Dec. 4.

- In what's been hindering the Bulls, USF only committed six turnovers in the first half and 15 in the game. USF came into the game averaging 16.8 turnovers per game.

- With 14 points against Seton Hall, junior Hugh Robertson has scored in double-digits in four-straight games.

- Since his return to the team, junior Augustus Gilchrist has scored 12 points at Seton Hall and 12 at Cleveland State on Dec. 22.

- Four Bulls scored in double-digits in the loss, marking the fourth straight game that at least three players were in double-figures. Against Seton Hall, those four players were Augustus Gilchrist 12, Jarrid Famous11, Jawanza Poland 11 and Hugh Robertson 14.