Matchup: USF (5-4) vs. Drexel (5-5)
Date: Sunday, December 15
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN3 (Bernie Guenther, Mark Wise)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 13, 2019 – The USF men’s basketball team looks for its seventh straight win in the month of December when the Bulls host Drexel Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Yuengling Center.
Fans can enjoy a holiday spectacular at the Gate A entrance of the Yuengling Center that will include snow, Santa Claus, cookie decorating, reindeer food and much more. All fans wearing their favorite ugly Christmas sweater will receive a free USF basketball ornament along with 15 percent off at the team store. In addition, the best ugly sweater will receive four tickets for Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
USF (5-4) defeated Dartmouth 63-44 Dec. 6 in its last outing before taking a week off for final exams. Junior guard David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) scored a team-high 13 points and needs only 14 more Sunday against the Dragons to become the 20th player in school history with 1,000 career points. Overall, Collins leads USF and ranks 10th in The American with 14.4 points per game.
Sophomore guard Ezacuras Dawson III (Miami) added 11 points and knocked down a career-best three 3-pointers against Dartmouth and is shooting 57.1 percent from down town over the last six games. Senior Antun Maricevic (Zagreb, Croatia) finished with 10 points and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the win over the Big Green.
Senior guard Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) ranks second on the team with 12.6 points per game and stands 10th in the NCAA with 2.8 steals per game. Junior Justin Brown pours in 8.0 points per game, has made a team-best 16 three-pointers and needs one more trey to move into the top 10 all-time at USF.
THE OPPONENT
Drexel (5-5) has won three of its last five games despite falling 71-63 at home to La Salle on Dec. 7. Zach Walton scored 19 points and James Butler had 17 points and 12 rebounds, but the Explorers handed Drexel its first home loss of the season. The Dragons will be in search of their first road win of the season on Sunday, having lost road games to Rutgers, Temple and Stephen F. Austin thus far this season. Sunday will also be the first time since 2007 that Drexel has played a game in the state of Florida.
Butler leads the Drexel offense with 14.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while Walton adds 13.1 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench. Preseason All-CAA Second Team selection Camren Wynter scores in double figures with 11.0 points per game to go along with a team-high 57 assists.
QUOTABLE
“We’ve had a great week. I’m really proud of the way the guys took care of business in the classroom this semester. At the same time, we’ve been able to get some good workouts and good practices in this week. We’re entering a really big stretch with the three games in a six-day period again three quality opponents. I like our guy’s energy level and they are in a good place in terms of their work, and usually that translates into good performances.” – Head Coach Brian Gregory
NOTABLE
• USF and Drexel will meet for the first time in history when the two schools matchup on Sunday.
• USF is 8-6 all-time against schools currently in the Colonial Athletic Association.
• David Collins is 14 points shy of becoming the 20th member of the USF 1,000 point club.
• Junior Justin Brown is one three-pointer away from moving into the top 10 all-time at USF.
• USF ranks 33rd in the NCAA with 9.1 steals per game and has at least nine in six of nine games this season.
• David Collins has made 323 career free throws and ranks fifth all-time in school history.
• USF ranks 29th in the NCAA in turnovers forced with 17.8 per game.
• Laquincy Rideau ranks 10th in the NCAA with 2.8 steals per game.
• USF is 19-6 at home against non-conference competition under Brian Gregory.
• USF is 14-4 since the start of last season when Justin Brown scores in double figures.
• USF ranks 22nd in the NCAA in scoring defense by allowing just 59.2 points per game.
• USF has won six straight games in the month of December and has won by an average of 15.5 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.
– #GoBulls –
