SUNRISE, Fla. (December 9, 2023) – The University of South Florida men's basketball team took on Florida State in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic on Saturday inside Amerant Bank Arena.
Selton Miguel led the Bulls with a game-high 20 points as USF took down FSU 88-72.
South Florida never trailed in the game. It was USF's first win against the ACC since a 68-67 victory against Florida State on Nov. 18, 2007. The Bulls improved to 13-22 all-time against the Seminoles and improved to 3-4 in neutral-site games. South Florida has won seven of the last 13 matchups. It is USF's first win in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.
South Florida shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range on 12-of-23 shooting against the No. 5 ranked Florida State defense. The Seminoles entered the game holding opponents to 25.2 percent from 3-point range. The 12 made 3-pointers are the most since 2022.
The Bulls opened the game strong and scored the game's first eight points.
Jose Placer and
Kasean Pryor both knocked down 3-pointers during the USF 8-0 run.
The Seminoles hit a 3-pointer and scored 8-3, in favor of USF, with 15:58 left in the opening stanza.
Florida State answered with four unanswered points and cut the South Florida lead to 8-7. The Bulls stood strong as
Chris Youngblood and
Selton Miguel knocked down jumpers and put USF back on top 12-7. FSU scored four unanswered and closed the USF lead to 12-11. Miguel knocked down a free throw after the under-12 media timeout and put the Bulls up 13-11.
Youngblood started to heat up and outscored FSU 5-2 and put USF up 18-13 with 11:04 left in the first half. The two sides traded baskets and the Bulls held a 24-17 lead with 6:35 left until the break. South Florida added a 7-3 run and took a 33-21 lead with 3:57 left in the half.
USF outscored FSU 5-3 in the remainder of the half and took a 39-24 lead into the break. The South Florida defense held Florida State to just one made field goal for the final 4:44 of the half. The Bulls shot 42.9 percent (6-for-14) from 3-point range in the first half.
The Bulls opened the second half on a 5-0 run capped off by a
Kobe Knox dunk after a Pryor steal.
The Seminoles responded with a 7-5 run and cut the Bulls' lead to 48-31 with 15:56 left in regulation. Florida State added a 10-2 run and cut the South Florida lead to 50-41, the smallest lead of the second half. The Bulls were unfazed and answered with a 6-0 run and extended the lead to 56-41 with 11:52 left to play.
The Bulls outscored the Seminoles 12-5 for the next 5:29 of play and held FSU to zero made field goals during that span. South Florida held a 68-46 lead. The stout USF defense continued to pressure FSU and held the Seminoles to no field goals for a span of 7:31. The Bulls held a 79-58 lead with 3:38 left to play.
The Seminoles outscored the Bulls 14-9 for the remainder of the game, but the South Florida lead was too much to overcome. USF defeated FSU 88-72.
Miguel notched a game-high 20 points, while Youngblood finished with 18. Placer, Knox, Reid, and Pryor all tallied nine points each.
South Florida had fewer turnovers than Florida State, 14-16, and produced more second-chance points, 13-7. The Bulls were strong on the defensive glass and held a 30-28 advantage in defensive rebounds. The 16 forced turnovers led to 19 USF points. The transition offensive was on full display as South Florida produced 22 fastbreak points, compared to Florida State's seven.
The Bulls held the Seminoles' leading scorer Darin Green Jr. to just three points. He entered the game averaging 14.1 points per contest.
Notables
·
Selton Miguel recorded a season-high 20 points, his fifth game in double figures. He brought down four rebounds, tied a career-high with two blocks, and dished out two assists.
·
Chris Youngblood posted 18 points for his fourth game in double figures. He added two rebounds and one block.
·
Kasean Pryor collected a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with nine points.
· The South Florida bench has outscored the opponent's bench in every game this season, including a 37-34 advantage against Florida State.
· It was USF's first win against the ACC since a 68-67 win against Florida State on Nov. 18, 2007.
· The Bulls improved to 13-22 all-time against the Seminoles and improved to 3-4 in neutral-site games.
· The 16-point margin of victory is the largest against FSU.
· It is the first win against a Power 5 opponent since a 66-64 win against Alabama on December 7, 2013.
· South Florida shot 52.2 percent from 3-point range on 12-of-23 shooting against the No. 5 ranked Florida State defense. The Seminoles entered the game holding opponents to 25.2 percent from 3-point range. The 12 made 3-pointers are the most since 2022.
· The Bulls held the Seminoles' leading scorer Darin Green Jr. to just three points. He entered the game averaging 14.1 points a contest.
· South Florida never trailed in the game.
Next Up
The Bulls return to the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center for a Tuesday matchup with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ on December 12.
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About USF Men's Basketball
The South Florida men's basketball team is led by Amir Abdur-Rahim, who was named the 11th head coach in program history on March 29, 2023. Abdur-Rahim was named the 2023 Mid-Major Coach of the Year (Hugh Durham Award) after leading Kennesaw State to its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23. Abdur-Rahim's Kennesaw State team set an NCAA record as the fastest team to ever reach the NCAA Tournament after a one-win campaign, accomplishing the feat in a span of just three seasons. He was also named the 2022-23 NABC District 3 and ASUN Coach of the Year after leading Kennesaw State to both the regular season and tournament titles, and a school-record 26 wins.
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. Season tickets for the 2023-24 USF men's basketball slate are on sale now. To purchase season tickets, click here.
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