DALLAS, Texas (January 12, 2022) – The University of South Florida Bulls (5-10, 0-3 AAC) got off to a fast start on Wednesday night at SMU (12-4, 3-1 AAC), but saw the Mustangs heat up in the second half to put the game out of reach in a 77-65 setback.
South Florida posted its second-best shooting percentage of the season in the loss (48%), but also allowed the second-highest opponent shooting percentage of the year to SMU (50%). The Mustangs went 6-12 from three-point range in the second half, including five straight makes at one point, to secure the home win.
SMU also ran the court with great success against a typically stout Bulls' defense, with a 20-2 advantage in fastbreak points.
Jamir Chaplin (Norcross, Ga.) matched his season high of 17 points for the second straight game to lead USF. Russel Tchewa (Douala, Cameroon) poured in 14 points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Caleb Murphy (Youngstown, Ohio) scored 12 points on 6-12 shooting from the field.
USF led 11-2 after five minutes in the opening half and led by nine points once again with 5:30 left in the frame. SMU closed the half on a 9-2 run to carry a 37-33 advantage into the break and never trailed in the second half.
Leading 57-51 with 9:58 left in the game, the Mustangs proceeded to surge on 12-point run to put the game out of reach. USF did close the game out on an 11-2 run of their own, including nine points from Serrel Smith Jr. (St. Petersburg).
Notable
- USF was out-rebounded, 32-24, and falls to 0-7 this season in such instances.
- SMU improved to 10-0 at home this year.
- Chaplin is averaging 16 points over his last four games.
- Smith Jr.'s nine points are a new season high.
- Mark Calleja (Hudson) saw his first game action of the year on Wednesday night.
Up Next
The Bulls return home after a two-game road trip to host UCF in a War On I-4 showdown at the Yuengling Center on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Tampa.
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About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory, who enters his fifth season in 2021-22. Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history in March of 2017 after previously leading 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 owns over 300 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship with Dayton. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.
USF has retired three numbers in its history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids, appeared in the NIT eight times and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
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