TAMPA (February 25, 2023) – The University of South Florida Bulls overcame a 12-point halftime deficit on Saturday night at the Yuengling Center and produced a 71-67 victory over SMU. Tyler Harris logged his third 30-point game of the season, including 27 in the second half, which matched a program record for most points by a Bull in any half (Jimmy Baxter, 12/14/02).

Harris also went 5-for-9 from three-point land (4-for-6 in the second half) to match the USF single-season record for triples (88 – Derrick Sharp, 1991-92).

The Bulls trailed by as many as 15 in the second half before Harris took over as he also scored 14 straight USF points beginning at the 13:42 mark in the period.

South Florida (13-16, 6-10 AAC) has won two straight and three of its last four games. SMU falls to 10-19 (5-11 AAC) with the loss.

"We knew we were in for a battle tonight against an SMU team that I think is one of the most improved teams, along with us, in all of college basketball from the start of the year until now," said head coach Brian Gregory. "Our energy level wasn't where it needed to be in the first half, but we played South Florida basketball in the second half. We played physical, we were sharp on defense and we moved the ball well on offense. You wouldn't know it by looking at the box score with only one basket on the night, but Sam (Hines Jr.) won that game for us tonight. He does everything that we ask of him, all the little things, and he's always making plays on the defensive end."

Hines Jr. finished the game with seven rebounds, a pair of assists, one blocked shot and one steal. The forward assisted Ryan Conwell on a clutch go-ahead three-pointer at the 3:14 mark and had a key defensive rebound with 23 seconds remaining and the Bulls clinging to a 69-67 lead.

Conwell's three-pointer capped a 12-2 run for USF after Serrel Smith Jr. gave the Bulls their first lead, 57-56 with 4:27 left to play, since the opening possession of the ballgame.

Harris' record-tying three-pointer came with 2:01 left on the clock and answered an SMU triple to give the Bulls the lead once again, 65-63. Harris then iced the game at the free throw line.

Notable

• Harris' next three-pointer will stand as a new USF single-season record.
• Harris already set a new AAC record for career three-pointers this season (281).
• Harris has knocked down at least five three-pointers in a game 10 times this season.
• Harris is the first Bull with three 30-point games in a season since Dominique Jones (2009-10).
• Harris' three 30-point games are tied for fourth all-time on USF's career list.
• Russel Tchewa came up just short of his 10th career double-double, finishing the night with 12 points and nine rebounds.
• The 15-point deficit is the largest USF has overcome in a win this season, and the largest since a 16-point comeback on March 8, 2011 vs. Villanova (70-69 win).
• The 12-point halftime deficit is tied for the sixth-largest halftime deficit overcome in program history.
• USF improves to 50-19 (12-5 this season) under head coach Brian Gregory when scoring at least 70 points in a game.

Up Next

The Bulls wrap up their home slate with Senior Night on Wednesday, March 1 against Tulsa at 7 p.m. USF will then travel to Wichita State for the regular season finale on Sunday, March 5.

Tickets are on sale now. Fans are encouraged to visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-Go-Bulls to purchase tickets.

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, who enters his sixth season in 2022-23. 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.

– #GoBulls –