Matchup: USF (6-6) vs. Florida Atlantic (8-4)
Date: Sunday, December 29
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN3 (Drew Fellios, Mike O’Donnell)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 28, 2019 – The USF men’s basketball team puts the finishing touches on its non-conference schedule Sunday at 5 p.m. when the Bulls welcome in-state foe Florida Atlantic to the Yuengling Center.
USF (6-6) enters its final game of 2019 coming off a heartbreaking 66-60 loss to No. 19 Florida State last Saturday. Sophomore forward Michael Durr (Atlanta) scored a career-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and one block to lead a trio of Bulls in double figures.
Junior guard David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) added 14 points and continues to serve as the top scorer for USF. Collins averages 15.2 points per game and ranks fifth in The American in scoring. He also stands fourth in the league with 2.1 steals per game.
Senior guard Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) also scored 14 points against the Seminoles and finished with seven rebounds, four assists and one steal. Rideau is second on the team with 13.4 points per game and ranks ninth in the NCAA with 2.7 steals per game.
THE OPPONENT
Florida Atlantic (8-4) has won four straight games after picking up a 65-50 road win at Mercer on Dec. 22. The Owls have not lost since falling 71-64 at home to St. Bonaventure on Dec. 2.
Senior guard Cornelius Taylor leads the Florida Atlantic offense with 11.7 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 24 assists. Sophomore Michael Forrest also averages double figures with 10.7 points per game and is shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range.
NOTABLE
• USF and Florida Atlantic will meet for the 16th time in history when the two schools battle on Sunday.
• USF is a perfect 9-0 all-time at home against Florida Atlantic.
• USF ranks 34th in the NCAA with 8.9 steals per game and has at least eight in nine of 12 games this season.
• David Collins has made 335 career free throws and ranks third all-time in school history.
• USF ranks 26th in the NCAA in turnovers forced with 17.5 per game.
• Laquincy Rideau ranks ninth in the NCAA with 2.7 steals per game.
• USF is 15-4 since the start of last season when Justin Brown scores in double figures.
• USF ranks 34th in the NCAA in scoring defense by allowing just 61.3 points per game.
• David Collins is shooting 57.4 percent (27-for-47) from the field over his last five games.
• USF has held 11 of its 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Antun Maricevic is shooting 90.0 percent (9-for-10) and averaging 6.5 points per game over the last four games.
• David Collins ranks 18th all-time at USF in scoring with 1,038 career points.
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 –
