Bulls Start Two-Game Run in N.C.

Bulls Start Two-Game Run in N.C.

Matchup: USF (4-3) at Elon (4-3)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 30
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Elon, N.C. | Alumni Gym (1,607)
TV: Phoenix All-Access (http://bit.ly/2j2b6F7)
Radio: AM 820 | USF Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter

TAMPA, NOV. 29, 2017 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team opens a two-game road trip through North Carolina on Thursday at Elon.

The Bulls (4-3) wrapped up a span of three home games in five days on Sunday, Nov. 26 against Eastern Michigan in a 65-47 loss. The Bulls won the first two games of the stretch over Howard and Arkansas State.

The game against Eastern Michigan also wrapped up the Hoosier Tip-Off Classic, a four game in-season tournament that began with the Bulls' trip to Indiana on Nov. 19. Malik Martin (Miami, Fla.) was named to the all-tournament team for the Classic after posting 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. His 12.3 points were second on the team and he led the team in rebounding.

Martin was also named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll after posting the first Bulls double-double of the season and setting career highs in points (24) and rebounds (10) against Arkansas State on Nov. 24.
  
THE OPPONENT 
Elon (4-3) has not taken the court since a 77-74 home win over Radford on Nov. 22. Prior to that game, the Phoenix wrapped up a 2-1 showing in the Black and Gold Shootout in Milwaukee, including a three overtime, 95-87 win over Florida International in the first game.

Junior guard Dainan Swoope leads the way for Elon, scoring 17.7 points and chipping in 3.4 assists per contest. He is currently the fourth-leading scorer in the Colonial Athletic Association. Dimitri Thompson, a senior out of Orlando, is the leading rebounder for the Phoenix with 6.3 boards per game.

Elon returned all five starters and seven reserves from a team that went 18-14 and finished fourth in the CAA last season. The Phoenix added only three newcomers to the roster for this season.

The Bulls and the Phoenix have met once previously, last season at the Sun Dome. Elon took the matchup, 74-61, on Nov. 17, 2017. Steven Santa Ana and Brian Dawkins had 13 points each to lead the way for Elon, while Geno Thorpe had 16 points to be the leading scorer for the Bulls. Tulio Da Silva (Formiga, Brazil) had 11 points and nine rebounds.

NOTABLES
  • With a win, USF will win its second road game of the season, surpassing the total for the 2016-17 season. The Bulls snapped a 10-game road skid on Nov. 15 against Stetson. The only road win for the Bulls last season came on Dec. 1, 2016 against Troy.
  • With a win, the Bulls would also start its road slate 2-1 or better for the first time since the 2013-14 season, when the team opened 4-0 on the road.
  • Guard Terrence Samuel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has 4.7 assists per game, the third-most in the American Athletic Conference.
  • USF opponents are shooting only 27.8 percent (40-for-144) from beyond the arc, giving the Bulls the best three-point defense in the conference and the 28th-best three-point defense in the country.
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 10th 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.
– #GoBulls –
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