Bulls Host Alcorn State Friday in Search of Fifth Straight Win

Bulls Host Alcorn State Friday in Search of Fifth Straight Win

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Matchup: USF (8-2) vs. Alcorn State (4-7)
Date: Friday, Dec. 21
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN3 (Ari Shanok, Stan Lewter)
Radio: AM 820 | USF Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
Follow: Listen | Watch | Live Stats | Twitter

TAMPA, DEC. 20, 2018 – The USF men's basketball team aims for its first five-game winning streak since 2007 when the Bulls host Alcorn State Friday at 7 p.m. at the Yuengling Center.

USF (8-2) played its first true road game of the season Tuesday at FIU and posted an 82-73 victory at FIU behind 28 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and five steals from redshirt junior guard Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.). Rideau also finished with a career-best four 3-pointers and helped USF finish with a season-high 10 treys. In addition, USF shot 71.4 percent (10-for-14) from beyond the arc to mark the second-highest three-point percentage in school history in a single game.

Rideau ranks second on the team with 13.9 points per game and leads the American Athletic Conference with 2.8 steals per game and 6.0 assists per game. Rideau also stands sixth in the NCAA in steals and 27th in assists.

Sophomore David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) poured in 16 points and added four rebounds in the win over FIU and leads the USF offense with 15.5 points per game. Collins ranks second in The American and 12th in the nation with 2.6 steals per game. As a team, USF is 11th in the NCAA with 9.5 steals per game after registering a season-high 15 Tuesday at FIU.

Alexis Yetna (Paris) fell one point shy of a double-double on Tuesday with nine points and 13 rebounds. Yetna is tied for the league lead with four double-doubles while topping the conference and standing 14th in the NCAA with 10.4 rebounds per game.

THE OPPONENT
Alcorn State (4-7) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday when the Braves suffered a 76-49 setback at UAB to drop to 0-6 on the road. Alcorn State does own a perfect 4-0 record at home, but all four games were played against non-Division I opponents. Overall, the Braves average 69.7 points per game and lead the SWAC in three-pointers made with 8.8 per game.  

Junior guard Maurice Howard leads the Alcorn State offensive with 14.5 points per game and 39 three-pointers made. Junior forward Deshaw Andrews is second on the team with 13.4 points per game and first on the team with 5.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Troymain Crosby adds 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Notable
  • USF leads Alcorn State 4-0 in the all-time series that dates back to the 1991-92 season.  
  • USF owns an 8-2 overall record against schools currently in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
  • USF is in search of its first five-game winning streak since the 2007-08 season.
  • Alexis Yetna was selected as The American Freshman of the Week on Monday.
  • David Collins leads USF and ranks 14th in The American with 15.5 points per game.
  • USF is just two wins shy of its total output from a season ago.
  • USF is winning by 7.5 points and shooting 46.4 percent from the field during its four-game winning streak.
  • USF is 12-4 at home against non-conference competition under head coach Brian Gregory.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).

About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, 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. In his first season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to its first 10-plus win season since 2013-14. 

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.
 
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