TAMPA, DEC. 14, 2017 – After a first half that saw 10 lead changes, the Bulls pulled ahead with 17:18 to go in the second half and went on to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 83-63, at the Sun Dome on Thursday night.

USF mounted a 21-3 run through the middle of the second half to pull away for the team's largest victory of the season.

Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) hit 1,000 career points by knocking down two free throws with 5:18 remaining in the second half. Jiggetts finished the night with a team-leading 20 points to go along with seven assists and five rebounds.

In all, five different Bulls scored in double figures for the first time since Dec. 15, 2015 against Jacksonville. Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) came off the bench for the first time this season and scored 16 points, including three first-half threes. Tulio Da Silva (Formiga, Brazil) followed up his 17-rebound performance against FIU with 15 points and five rebounds, tying for the team lead in boards.

As a team, the Bulls shot 55.6 percent (30-for-54) from the field, a new season high. The game marked the first time since Dec. 12, 2016, also against Bethune-Cookman, that the Bulls shot over 50 percent in both halves. The Bulls also shot 50 percent (7-for-14) from beyond the arc, the first time USF has hit that threshold since Dec. 17, 2016 against South Carolina.

Quotable
Head coach Brian Gregory on the game:
"We played extremely hard, shared the ball, moved the ball. I thought Stephan Jiggetts played his most complete game since being here. Payton Banks responded extremely well to coming off the bench, with great energy. We got a lot of good basketball from a lot of different guys, so that was good to see."

Stephan Jiggetts on getting 1,000 career points:
"I didn't even know I was that close, to be honest. I guess it's a good thing to be happy about…We definitely had to get that extra win in the win column, especially after losing four straight."

Tulio Da Silva on what has changed for him:
"It's just coming to practice and playing hard. I think I've gotten better at that after making a lot of mistakes. I think I've improved my rebounding as well. I'm just getting my playing time back and I think I'm improving."

Key Stats
33.3 – The Bulls held Bethune-Cookman to 33.3 percent (10-for-30) from the field in the second half after the Wildcats shot 51.7 percent (15-for-29) in the first half.
19 – USF tied a season high with 19 assists on 30 made baskets.
62.5 – The Bulls shot 62.5 percent (5-for-8) from beyond the arc in the first half, including three made threes from Payton Banks.

Notable

• As a team, the Bulls set new season highs in points (83), field goal percentage (55.6, 30-for-54) and three-point field goal percentage (50.0, 7-for-14).
• Stephan Jiggetts set a new season high with seven assists on the night, tying Terrence Samuel's seven at Stetson for the most by a Bull in a single game this season.
• Tulio Da Silva scored 15 points, his most points since he scored 20 in the opener against FAU on Nov. 10.
• Freshman Justin Brown (Birmingham, Ala.) made his first-career start and made the game's first basket.

Up Next
USF continues its five-game home stand with a test against Northern Arizona on Monday, Dec. 18. The 7 p.m. game will be broadcast live for free on GoUSFBulls.com.

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.