Bulls Seek Second Straight Win in Houston

Bulls Seek Second Straight Win in Houston

Matchup: USF (8-13, 1-7 AAC) at Houston (15-4, 5-2 AAC)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 28
Time: 3 p.m. EST
Location: Houston, Texas | H&PE Arena (8,100)
TV: ESPN3 (David Saltzman, Reid Gettys)
Radio: AM 820 | USF Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter

HOUSTON, Texas, JAN. 27, 2018 – The USF men's basketball team is in search of its second straight victory when it takes the court on Sunday at Houston. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN3.

The Bulls (8-13, 1-7 AAC) won the opener of the two-game road trip on Thursday night at Tulane, 80-75. Four different Bulls scored in double figures in the game, led by 23 points from Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.).

USF also got double-doubles from Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) and Terrence Samuel (Brooklyn, N.Y.). It was the first career double-double for both players. Banks scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds in the game, while Terrence Samuel had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Both also set new career highs on the glass in the game.

Freshman Justin Brown (Birmingham, Ala.) was the third Bull in double figures with 12 points. He also tied his career high with seven rebounds in the game.

For USF, the game marked the first conference win of the Brian Gregory era. It was also the first American Athletic Conference road win for the Bulls since Feb. 16, 2016 at ECU. The win also gives USF eight on the season, which surpasses the win total from the entire 2016-17 season.
  
THE OPPONENT 
The Bulls meet the Cougars for the second time this season. USF and Houston (15-4, 5-2 AAC) opened the conference slate with a matchup at the Sun Dome on Dec. 28. Houston took that game, 79-60.

The Cougars were led by junior Corey Davis Jr. in the first game, who scored 15 points. Davis is the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.3 points per game.

The Bulls were able to hold AAC scoring leader Rob Gray to only 11 points at the Sun Dome, tied for his second-lowest scoring output of the season. Gray is averaging 19.7 points per game this season.

On the glass, the Cougars are led by redshirt senior Devin Davis, who averages 6.4 rebounds per game.

In six games since facing the Bulls, Houston has gone 4-2. The Cougars have not played since they defeated then-No. 7 ranked Wichita State, 73-59, on Jan. 20. Gray led the Cougars in that game with 24 points.

The game in Houston will be played at H&PE Arena on the campus of Texas Southern University as Houston's home arena, Hofheinz Pavilion, is under renovations this season.

NOTABLES
  • A win over Houston would give the Bulls their first back-to-back conference wins since the 2015-16 season. USF last accomplished the feat on Feb. 16 and Feb. 20, 2016 with wins at ECU and versus Memphis.
  • Stephan Jiggetts played 40 or more minutes in a game without committing a turnover for the second time this season at Tulane. He played 41 minutes in the overtime game at Elon on Nov. 30, also without recording a turnover.
  • The Bulls shot 49 percent (24-for-49) at Tulane, their best shooting performance since shooting 49.2 percent in a win over Charlotte on Dec. 21.
  • At Tulane, the Bulls had two players with 10 or more rebounds for the first time since March 4, 2015.
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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