TROY, Ala., DEC.  1, 2016 – Junior guard Geno Thorpe scored the final 20 points to lead the USF men's basketball team to an 80-74 win at Troy on Thursday.

The final 20 points from Thorpe (Pittsburgh) all came in the last 7:21 of the game. His 12-of-13 effort from the free throw line held off the Trojans (3-4), who cut a 23-point Bulls (4-2) lead to five with 2:15 remaining.

Thorpe finished with a career-high 22 points and recorded six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes of action.

The Bulls won their second consecutive game with a similar trend, shooting the ball extremely well in the first half and holding on after a big halftime lead. Three days after shooting 72 percent in the first half and holding a 21-point lead over Kennesaw State at halftime, the Bulls shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and held Troy to 24.2 percent to lead 43-25 at the break.

Sophomore guard Troy Holston, feeling comfortable on the court that bears his first name, made all three of his 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 15 points.

After Troy's first basket, a 3-pointer, USF led the entire game. In the second half, USF led 64-47 with 6:33 left to play before Troy went on a 15-3 scoring run to make it a five-point lead by the Bulls, 67-62, with 2:15 remaining. Thorpe ended the Trojan momentum with a layup, while drawing the foul. After the made free throw, it was a more comfortable eight-point lead, 70-62, with 1:18 left to play.

The Bulls dominated the paint, holding a 34-20 advantage down low. Sophomore forward Luis Santos (Bronx) scored all of his career-high 14 points in the paint and was 7-of-7 from the field.

Quotables

USF head coach Orlando Antigua
On the win:

“I'm really proud how we bended as a young team learning how to win on the road, but we didn't break. I can't say enough about Geno's leadership down the stretch. Just making plays, hitting a big three and getting to the free throw line. There's a lot we can learn from that second half. We've got to work to get open and be strong and secure the ball. You're asking so much of such a young team, but to be able to do it and come out with a win on the road, we are really happy with that.”

On Luis Santos:

“Luis is doing a phenomenal job of utilizing his strength and his body and sealing people. Once his hands get on the ball it's hard for anyone to take it from him with his grip. He is finishing through contact. His last three games have been phenomenal for us.”

On Geno Thorpe:

“That's what you want to see from your guards. You want to trust them at the end of the game when you are in a close situation that they can come, get open and get fouled. Then you make the opposing team pay for that. He made a huge three in the second half as they went on that run.”

Key Stats

·        USF made a season-high eight 3-pointers (8-of-17).

·        USF led 43-25 at the half, but was outscored 49-37 in the second half.

Notables:

·        USF held Troy to 25 points, the fewest of any opponent in any half this season. The previous high was 27 in the first half by Kennesaw State.

·        USF outscored Troy in the paint, 34-20. The Bulls have outscored five of their six opponents in the paint.

·        Santos has scored in double-figures in each of his last three game. He has made 16 of his last 18 shots from the field.

·        Bibby, was 1-of-4 from 3-point range. He has made at least one 3-pointer in all six games.

·        Freshman forward Tulio Da Silva finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. He was one of three Bulls with two blocks (Holston and Ruben Guerrero).

·        Jeremy Hollimon led the Trojans with 15 points. DeVon Walker had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Up Next:

USF continues its road trip at George Washington (4-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game is streamed online at RaiseHighLive.TV.  

The USF men's basketball team is led by Orlando Antigua, who is in his third season as the head coach after spending the previous six season as an assistant to Naismith Hall of Fame coach John Calipari. The Bulls return five from last season's team including American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team member Jahmal McMurray who scored the second-most points ever by a USF freshman last season. The Bulls will also have four additions that sat out last season; Tulio Da Silva, Troy Holston, Isaiah Manderson and Geno Thorpe.

USF has retired three numbers in its 46-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. In the 2011-12 season, USF was one win away from an appearance in the Sweet 16.

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