USF Athletics

Bulls Continue Home Stretch Against Arkansas State

November 23, 2017

Matchup: Arkansas State (2-3) at USF (3-2)
Date: Friday, Nov. 24
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | USF Sun Dome (10,411)
Radio: AM 1040 | GoUSFBulls.com (Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter

TAMPA, NOV. 23, 2017 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team continues a stretch of three home games in five days on Friday, Nov. 24 against Arkansas State.
The game is the third of four in the Hoosier Tip-Off Classic for the Bulls. USF is 1-1 so far in the tournament after a 70-52 win over Howard on Wednesday night.

The Bulls set a season high on Wednesday night with 11 made threes. Guard Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) tied his career high with four made from beyond the arc on his way to a team-leading 16 points. He added six boards to tie for the team lead.

Wing Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) rained down four threes of his own, finishing the night with 14 points. Forward Tulio Da Silva (Formiga, Brazil) was the third of three Bulls to finish the game in double figures, scoring 10 points and pulling in six rebounds.
  
THE OPPONENT 
Arkansas State (2-3) concludes its slate in the Hoosier Tip-Off Classic against the Bulls. Arkansas State fell to Indiana on Wednesday night, 87-70. Its lone win in the tournament came against Howard on Monday, Nov. 20, a 92-78 victory.

The Red Wolves return eight players, including three starters, from a team that won 20 games last season. They are led by senior guard Deven Simms, who has averaged 16.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game thus far despite only making one start. Simms was the team's second-leading scorer last season. The team's second-leading scorer is junior Ty Cockfield, who averages 16.0 points per game.

The Bulls and the Red Wolves meet for the first time since 1975, with the series tied, 1-1. USF took the last meeting, 70-63, on Jan. 18, 1975.

NOTABLES

• The Bulls had 19 assists on 25 made baskets on Wednesday night and are averaging 13.6 assists per game.
• USF is 75-for-96 (78.1 percent) from the free throw line this season, which is second-best in the AAC.
• The Bulls have allowed 63.2 points per contest this season, the fourth-best scoring defense in the American.
• Payton Banks is averaging 16.7 points per game in his last three games and has taken the team lead in scoring with 12.4 points
• Every active Bull saw action in the game on Wednesday night, including the first collegiate action for guard Joey Coffaro (Arlington Heights, Ill.)

About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, Gregory was introduced as the 10^th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory brings nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship, to Tampa.

USF has retired three numbers in its 47-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.

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