Matchup: USF (3-4) vs. Furman (7-1)
Date: Monday, December 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN3 (Drew Fellios, Mark Wise)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 1, 2019 – The USF men’s basketball team begins a three-game homestand Monday at 7 p.m. when the Bulls host Furman at the Yuengling Center.
USF (3-4) finished in fourth place at the Cayman Islands Classic last week following a win over Loyola Chicago and setbacks to New Mexico State and Nebraska. In the most recent game, USF junior David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) scored a team-high 16 points and enters the week leading the USF offense with 14.4 points per game. Collins, who needs 43 more points to become the 20th member of the USF 1,000-point club, is shooting 50.0 from the field over his last four games.
Senior guard Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) poured in 15 points to go along with five assists against the Cornhuskers and was selected to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team. Rideau ranks second on the team with 13.3 points per game and ranks seventh in the NCAA with 3.0 steals per game.
Justin Brown (Atlanta) adds 7.9 points per game, ranks second on the team with 4.4 rebounds per game and has made a team-best 12 three-pointers. Sophomore post Michael Durr (Atlanta) paces the squad with 6.0 rebounds per game.
THE OPPONENT
Furman (7-1) won its three straight game following a 58-57 victory over UT Arlington Wednesday at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. The Paladins’ only loss of the season came Nov. 19 when Furman dropped an 81-73 decision at Alabama. Despite the loss, Furman is winning by an average of 21.4 points per game and shoot 49.6 percent from the field.
Senior guard Jordan Lyons leads Furman with 16.1 points per game and shoots 40.4 percent from the field and 93.8 percent from the free throw line. Junior forward Clay Mounce is second on the team with 14.5 points per game and leads Furman with 6.1 rebounds per game. Both Noah Gurley (12.8 ppg) and Mike Bothwell (10.4 ppg) score in double figures for the Paladins.
NOTABLE
• USF and Furman will meet for the third time in history when the two schools matchup on Monday.
• USF is 17-6 all-time against schools currently in the Southern Conference.
• David Collins is 43 points shy of becoming the 20th member of the USF 1,000 point club.
• Junior Justin Brown is five three-pointers away from moving into the top 10 all-time at USF.
• USF ranks 35th in the NCAA with 9.4 steals per game and has at least nine in all five of seven games this season.
• David Collins has made 315 career free throws and ranks sixth all-time in school history.
• USF ranks 22nd in the NCAA in turnovers forced with 18.4 per game.
• Laquincy Rideau ranks seventh in the NCAA with 3.0 steals per game.
• USF is 17-6 at home against non-conference competition under Brian Gregory.
• USF is 13-4 since the start of last season when Justin Brown scores in double figures.
• USF has made at least one three-pointer in 136 consecutive games.
• USF was 4-0 last season during the month of December and won by an average of 15.3 points per game.
About USF Men’s Basketball
The USF men’s basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, Gregory was introduced as the 10th 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 owns nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship. 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 47-year 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.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men’s’ basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
