ATLANTA, Ga., DEC. 12, 2020 – Jamir Chaplin scored the game-winning basket and Brian Gregory won his 300th career game as South Florida rallied to defeat Wofford 58-56 Saturday afternoon in game one of the Holiday Hoopsgiving quadrupleheader at State Farm Arena.
Chaplin, who also stole the inbounds pass on the final play of the game, finished with eight points and a career-high eight rebounds off the bench.
David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) led USF with 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, and Alexis Yetna (Paris) added 11 points to help the Bulls capture their third straight victory.
Tray Hollowell scored a game-high 21 points and Storm Murphy finished with 17 points and six assists for a Wofford team that has lost two in a row.
USF (4-2) built an early 10-7 lead before a six-minute scoring drought allowed Wofford to go on a 9-0 run and go ahead 16-10.
Five straight points from Justin Brown (Atlanta) put USF back on top with just over six minutes before halftime.
The Bulls went back up by three points on a jumper by Russel Tchewa (Douala, Cameroon) later in the half, but a jumper by Murphy just before halftime pulled Wofford to within one.
Hollowell put Wofford on top by eight early in the second half with an old fashioned three-point play. Yetna answered two possessions later with a three-pointer to ignite an 18-5 run by the Bulls that left USF leading 52-47 with six minutes remaining.
Wofford (2-2) would pull even with USF three times over the final five minutes, but the Bulls answered with points all three times and held on for the victory.
Quotable
“Today I am proud and humbled, but most of all I am grateful. I am filled with gratitude towards so many who have helped make today possible. First, like everything else in my life, God gives you much more than you earn, and I am grateful for him directing the steps and the stops of my life. I am grateful for the players who have bought in to the notion that it was less about wins and losses, but more about becoming quality men in the process. I am grateful to the parents for entrusting me with developing their sons both on and off the court. I am grateful for the amazing staffs that I have been a part of. Their work ethic and sacrifices have always been at the highest level. I am grateful for the administrations that gave me the opportunity to lead their programs, in particular Ted Kissell, who gave me my first opportunity to become a head coach at Dayton. I am so grateful for my family. I have two amazing daughters who understand the sacrifices of being a coach’s kid, and a wife who has never wavered. There have been some dark times and tough nights through this journey, but Yvette has been a stronghold in all of those times. Finally, I am grateful to be the head coach at the University of South Florida and to be able to accomplish this milestone with this great group of student-athletes. This is a special place and this is a special group. Go Bulls!!” — USF head coach Brian Gregory.
Notable
• USF improved to 11-2 during the month of December over the last three seasons.
• USF head coach Brian Gregory secured his 300th career victory.
• Justin Brown moved into sixth-place on USF’s all-time three-pointers made list with 164 career treys.
Key Stats
34 – USF held Wofford 34 points under its season scoring average (90.3 ppg).
21 – USF received 21 points from its bench and held the Wofford reserves to only three points.
24 – USF scored 24 points off 16 Wofford turnovers.
Up Next
USF opens American Athletic Conference play Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Bulls head to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats.
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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 300 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.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
– #GoBulls –
