Bulls Look for Two Straight Wins Monday Against Northern Arizona
Matchup:Â Northern Arizona (2-9) at USF (5-6)
Date:Â Monday, Dec. 18, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Location:Â Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome (10,411)
Watch: BullsVision (Jim Louk)
Radio:Â AM 820 | USF Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter
TAMPA, FLA., Dec. 17, 2017 – The USF men's basketball team continues its five-game home stand with a matchup against Northern Arizona on Monday night. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the Sun Dome.
The Bulls are in search of their second straight victory after an 83-63 win over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday night. USF shot 55.6 percent (30-for-54) from the field and 50 percent (7-for-14) from beyond the arc in that matchup. It was the first time since Nov. 28, 2016 against Kennesaw State that the Bulls shot over 55 percent from the field and over 50 percent from three in the same game.
USF had five different players score in double figures in a game for the first time since Dec. 15, 2015 against Jacksonville. Â
Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) led the way with 20 points, surpassing the 1,000 point threshold for his career. Jiggetts also added five rebounds and a season-high seven assists. He became the second player this season to lead the team in points, rebounds, and assists in a single game. Terrence Samuel also did it against Morgan State on Nov. 13. Entering this season, the last player to accomplish that feat for the Bulls was Dominique Jones on Jan. 23, 2010 at Providence.
As a team, the Bulls set season highs in points (83), field goal percentage (55.6), and three point field goal percentage (50.0) against the Wildcats and tied their season high in assists (19).
With a win, the Bulls would have two straight wins for the second time this season, something the team did only once last season.
THE OPPONENTÂ
Northern Arizona (2-9) travels to Tampa for the first-ever meeting between the Bulls and the Lumberjacks.
Sixth-year head coach Jack Murphy returns eight players from a squad that went 9-23 last season. Murphy has brought in nine newcomers, including two Division I transfers in Gino Littles (UT-San Antonio) and Malcom Allen (Stanford).
Leading scorer JoJo Anderson is coming off of a career-best performance against South Dakota, scoring 30 points. Anderson has scored in double figures for the Lumberjacks in seven of the last nine games.
NOTABLES
- The Bulls shot over 50 percent in both halves on Thursday against Bethune-Cookman, the first time USF has done that since Dec. 12, 2016, also against Bethune-Cookman.
- Malik Martin (Miami, Fla.) is shooting 60.3 percent (38-for-63) from the field this season, good for third in the American Athletic Conference. Martin was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field against Bethune-Cookman.
- After a 4-for-4 performance on Thursday, Stephan Jiggetts is second in the conference in free throw percentage, shooting 92.0 percent (23-for-35) from the line.
- As a team, the Bulls are shooting 76.3 percent (151-for-198) from the line this season, which ranks first in the AAC and 29th nationally among 351 Division I teams.
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 –
