PHILADELPHIA (January 24, 2024) – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team was back in action on Wednesday from the City of Brotherly Love for a game with Temple. Kasean Pryor recorded his third-straight game with a double-double as the Bulls defeated the Owls 75-69.
The 5-1 start to conference play ties the best start in program history. The only other time the Bulls started conference play 5-1 was in the 2000-01 season as a member of the Conference USA. For the fourth-straight game, South Florida used a come-from-behind effort to claim a victory.
The Owls started the game on a 9-4 run as the game went to the first media timeout. Temple added a 12-9 run and extended its lead to 21-13 at the second media timeout. The Bulls cut the deficit to four, 27-23 with 7:58 left in the opening stanza. Selton Miguel accounted for six of the team’s 10 points during that stretch.
Over the next 4:39, the Owls outscored the Bulls 6-3 and extended their lead to 33-26 with 3:19 left until the break. The Bulls were unfazed and cut the deficit to four points, 35-31, as the game went to the half.
The Bulls outscored the Owls 7-5 to start the second half. Pryor and Kobe Knox recorded back-to-back dunks. South Florida cut the deficit to two, 40-38, with 15:25 left in regulation.
After Pryor knocked down a 3-pointer, the Owls answered with back-to-back 3-pointers of their own. Chris Youngblood drained a 3-pointer and cut the deficit to two points, 46-44, with 12:46 left on the clock.
Temple went on a 9-2 run and extended its lead to nine points, 55-46, with 9:29 left in regulation. Youngblood capped off a USF 5-2 run and cut the deficit to six, 57-51 with just under eight minutes left on the clock.
The Bulls were resilient and went on a 13-6 run. Jayden Reid drained a 3-pointer to give USF a 64-63 lead with 4:19 left in regulation. South Florida picked up the intensity on the defensive end and limited Temple to just five points from the field over the final 4:06 of play. The Bulls outscored the Owls 11-6 to close out the half. Corey Walker Jr. came up with a big dunk to put USF on top 70-67. The Bulls claimed their fourth-straight come-from-behind win with a 75-69 victory.
Pryor recorded his third-straight double-double with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was his fourth straight game with 20 or more points. He added one steal. Miguel finished the game with 16 points, his 14th game in double figures. He dished out a team-high five assists to go along with three rebounds, two steals, and a block. Youngblood finished the game with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block. Reid closed out the double-digit scorers with 10 points with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
It was the 14th game of the season that the USF bench outscored its opponents. South Florida’s bench went for 27 points, while Temple was limited to just three points.
Matteo Picarelli recorded a game-high 23 points with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Hysier Miller finished with 16 points, three assists, three steals, and one rebound. Jahlil White chipped in with 13 points, while Jordan Riley added 11 points.
Notables
· The 5-1 start to conference play ties the best start in program history. The only other time the Bulls started conference play 5-1 was in the 2000-01 season as a member of the Conference USA.
· For the fourth-straight game, South Florida used a come-from-behind effort to claim a victory.
· Kasean Pryor recorded his third-straight double-double with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. It was his fourth straight game with 20 or more points. He added one steal.
· Selton Miguel finished the game with 16 points, his 14th game in double figures. He dished out a team-high five assists to go along with three rebounds, two steals, and a block.
· Chris Youngblood finished the game with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block.
· Jayden Reid posted a 10-point performance with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
· It was the 14th game of the season that the USF bench outscored its opponents. South Florida’s bench went for 27 points, while Temple was limited to just three points.
Next Up
South Florida returns to the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center on Saturday, January 27. USF faces off with UTSA on ESPN+ at 4 p.m.
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The South Florida men’s basketball team is led by Amir Abdur-Rahim, who was named the 11th head coach in program history on March 29, 2023. Abdur-Rahim was named the 2023 Mid-Major Coach of the Year (Hugh Durham Award) after leading Kennesaw State to its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23. Abdur-Rahim’s Kennesaw State team set an NCAA record as the fastest team to ever reach the NCAA Tournament after a one-win campaign, accomplishing the feat in a span of just three seasons. He was also named the 2022-23 NABC District 3 and ASUN Coach of the Year after leading Kennesaw State to both the regular season and tournament titles, and a school-record 26 wins.
USF has retired three numbers in its 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. Season tickets for the 2023-24 USF men’s basketball slate are on sale now. To purchase season tickets, click here.