By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, NOV. 16, 2014 – Chris Perry scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Bulls improve to 2-0 with a 73-64 win over Jackson State before a crowd of 3,095 at the Sun Dome on Sunday afternoon.

Perry previously matched his career high with 18 points in USF's season-opening win over Flagler College and the sophomore forward from Bartow, Fla., scored four points during a 23-5 run in the second half that swung the momentum in the Bulls' favor for good.

"I came out here and I just wanted to play as hard as I could. My mom actually went to that school, so that was added inspiration," said Perry, who recorded his third career double-double after going 6-for-9 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

Senior guard Corey Allen Jr. (St. Louis, Mo.) was the other Bull in double figures with 17 points. Senior guard Anthony Collins (Houston) and newcomers Jaleel Cousins (Mobile, Ala.) and Nehemias Morillo (Dominican Republic) added nine points apiece as USF shot 52.4 percent from the field.

"Just think about everything that's coming at these guys. They have a brand new staff, a brand new philosophy and they're all starting to get to know each other. They're starting to come together," head coach Orlando Antigua said. "… They've done an unbelievable job of responding to everything that's coming at them. Now we just have to keep building on that."

The Bulls built a 38-31 halftime lead despite turning the ball over 12 times thanks to hot shooting from the field. Perry led the way with 11 points while USF knocked down 11 of its first 19 attempts (57.9 percent). The Bulls also capitalized at the free throw line, going 14-for-20, with Perry and Cousins each making five shots from the charity stripe.

Jackson State (0-2) used full-court pressure to claw its way back early in the second half and the Tigers took a 41-40 lead on a 3-pointer by Javeres Brent with 15:57 remaining. The Bulls answered with a jumper by Collins followed by a thunderous dunk by Perry to spark the game-changing run. USF pumped its advantage up to 63-48 with 6:14 remaining and never let the lead dip below nine the rest of the way.

The Bulls' defense forced Jackson State into 16 turnovers while the Tigers went 24-for-61 from the field (39.3 percent).

"We held another team under 40 percent, which is what we're trying to do. That gives us an opportunity to be in games if we're doing that," Antigua said.

Jackson State head coach Wayne Brent was impressed with the way the Bulls responded in the second half and paid Antigua's squad a great compliment after watching USF's new style at work.

"When I looked at them on film I saw a Kentucky style of basketball. I saw guys who had been competing in practice and when you get them on the floor they compete every single possession," Brent said. "They help the helper, they talk on defense. It's going to take some time but (Antigua) has it going in the right direction because they do the right things."

USF plays at UAB on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. and faces NC State on the road on Nov. 23 before the Bulls return to the Sun Dome to host Hofstra on Nov. 25. Purchase tickets HERE.

"It's nice to get two home wins before we go on the road," Allen Jr. said. "We've got two road games coming up, so it was nice to give our fans something to see before we get out there."