TAMPA, MARCH 4, 2018 – The Bulls got a big win on Sunday over SMU, defeating the Mustangs, 65-54, for USF's second straight win. The victory gives the Bulls 10 on the season, which marks the first time the team has reached 10 wins since the 2013-14 season. It is also the first time USF has won back-to-back American Athletic Conference games since February 2016.

After trailing by five, 27-22, at the end of the first half, the Bulls put up a huge second half to take control of the game. USF shot 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the field in the closing frame, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Bulls were also a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the second half.

Freshman David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) led the charge in the second half with 18 points in the period on 6-of-8 from the field. Collins had a career-high-tying 21 points in the game, along with two rebounds and two assists.

Malik Martin (Miami, Fla.) had his second straight dominant game, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds. After going 8-for-10 from the field in the Bulls' win at Memphis on Thursday, Martin was 7-for-9 from the floor in this one.

Sunday was also senior day for four Bulls, and they made it a special one. Graduate Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) led the way from the graduating class, scoring 14 points and pulling down a season-high eight rebounds. Jiggetts added four assists on the day.

Terrence Samuel (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied his career high with 12 boards, nine of which came in the first half. Samuel also had five assists and four points. Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) hit two big second half threes, accounting for all six of his points. Banks added three rebounds and four assists for the game.

Quotable
Head coach Brian Gregory on the effect of the seniors:
"I need to start out and talk about our seniors and what they've meant to us this year. One of the things I'm most proud of is each and every one of them has had their best statistical year of their career this year. I think that's a credit to my staff, but also a credit to those guys. I think even more important than that is the foundation that they're laying for this program, in terms of their character, self-development, and maturity. I think you see some younger guys developing because of the maturity and daily habits of some of the older guys."

Gregory on David Collins' rookie season:
"I'd be hard pressed to say he's not the rookie of the year. You look at statistical analysis, he's had as good of a freshman year as anyone in the league, and statistically probably better. I think he's second in scoring, first in field goal percentage, first in assists, first in steals. He's had as good of a year as any freshman around, and he's had as big of an impact as any freshman."

Terrence Samuel on the two straight victories:
"We've just been staying positive, staying with the mindset that it's not over. And (Coach Gregory) has been telling us that he's going to coach us until the last day, and I feel like these players have stepped it up in practice, in terms of focusing and it showed today in the game."

Key Stats
18 – The Bulls fell one short of a season high with 18 assists on 24 made baskets.
40-34 – For the second straight game USF won the rebounding battle, finishing plus-11 on the glass.

Notable

• The Bulls are now 9-4 this season when outrebounding their opponents.
• Malik Martin is 24-for his last-32 from the field after a 7-for-9 performance on Sunday. Martin has also made four of his last five from three point land.
• The 62.5 percent performance from the field in the second half marks the first time since Feb. 5, 2017 at Temple that the Bulls have shot above 60 percent in a half.

Up Next
The Bulls will look to make it three straight wins in the opening round of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Orlando on Thursday. USF is scheduled to take the floor at 2 p.m. and will take on the Memphis Tigers. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
 
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.
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