MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (November 22, 2024) – The University of South Florida men's basketball team returned to the court for the Myrtle Beach Invitational semifinal against Middle Tennessee on Friday. The Bulls battled from down 20 points in the second half, but the comeback bid fell short against the Blue Raiders, 95-88.
 
With the loss, South Florida fell to 3-3 on the season, while Middle Tennessee improved to 5-1. USF finished the game with four players in double digits. Jayden Reid led the Bulls with a career-high 18 points. Jamille Reynolds tied a season-high with 17 points. Kasen Jennings produced a 13-point performance. Jimmie Williams rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.
 
After Middle Tennessee scored the game's opening basket with a 3-pointer, South Florida scored the next four points. The two sides traded baskets before the Blue Raiders took a 17-11 lead at the first media timeout of the first half.
 
Middle Tennessee extended its lead to 24-11 with a 7-0 run. The Bulls started to battle back with 3-pointers from Jennings and Quincy Ademokoya as USF cut the deficit to 35-23 with just under seven minutes left in the first stanza.
 
The Blue Raiders outscored the Bulls 10-7 over the next four minutes and extended their lead to 45-30. MTSU ended the half with a 6-3 run and took a 51-33 lead into the half.
 
Middle Tennessee shot 57.1 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range. South Florida shot 50.0 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from long distance.
 
The Bulls started the second half with an 11-7 run, cutting the deficit to 58-44 at the first media timeout of the second half. During the run, a well-designed play led to a Kobe Knox dunk.
 
South Florida kept the pressure on and went on an 11-5 run and cut the deficit to 63-55 with just under 12 minutes left to play. Jamille Reynolds posted an emphatic two-handed slam to spark USF.
 
The two squads continued to battle for the next four minutes. With 7:57 left in regulation, MTSU held a 72-64 lead. The Bulls continued to battle, and a big 3-pointer from Williams pulled USF within three, 83-80.
 
Middle Tennessee held an 86-80 lead with 2:24 left on the clock. The Blue Raiders fended off the Bulls' late comeback effort and won the game 95-88.
 
Reynolds had a game-high nine rebounds with three assists. Reid led the team with four assists and three steals. Knox blocked a game-high two shots. The Bulls shot 50.9 percent from the field as a team, which tied for a season-best. USF shot 38.5 percent from 3-point range, which was the second-best mark of the season.  
 
The Blue Raiders came into the game shooting 28.1 percent from 3-point range and finished the game shooting 52.2 percent from long range. For the game, they shot 57.6 percent from the field. Jestin Porter, preseason All-CUSA selection, recorded a game-high 26 points to lead MTSU. Essam Mostafa finished with a double-double, with 20 points and ten rebounds. Kamari Lands finished with 17 points, while Justin Bufford chipped in with 10.
 
Notables
· Jayden Reid led the USF with a career-high 18 points, his second game in double figures this season.
· Jamille Reynolds tied a season-high 17 points, his fourth game in double digits.
· Kasen Jennings produced his fourth game with double figures with 13 points.
· Jimmie Williams collected his third game in double digits with 12 points.    
· South Florida has had four or more players score in double figures in five of the six games.
 
Up Next
The Bulls will close out the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Sunday, November 24, in the third-place game. South Florida will face either Bradley or Wright State, which will air on ESPN2 at 1 p.m.
 
About USF Men's Basketball
The University of South Florida men's basketball, led by interim head coach Ben Fletcher, is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls enter their 2024-25 campaign, presented by Tampa General Hospital, on the heels of their best season in program history, in which they claimed their first-ever regular season conference title, won a record 25 games, and earned a Top 25 ranking for the first time in program history. A presence on the college basketball scene for more than five decades, South Florida has earned two conference titles and three NCAA tournament bids (1990, 1992, and 2012), appeared in the NIT eight times, and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational. 
 
South Florida is wearing patches with the initials AAR this season in memory of their head coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away in October 2024.
 
The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center, located on South Florida's Tampa campus. 
 
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
 
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