MBB Sharp-Shooting Bulls Beat Tigers, 67-57

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: NOV. 29, 2015

 

Web Release:http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=210542488

 

Sharp-Shooting Bulls Beat Tigers, 67-57

Roddy Peters leads four Bulls in double figures with a career-high 17 points

 

TAMPA, NOV. 29, 2015 –Jaleel Cousins recorded his third double-double of the season to lead the USF men’s basketball team to a 67-57 win over Savannah State on Sunday.

 

The senior center had 13 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and a career-best five steals for the Bulls who have won two of their last three games and improved to 2-5 overall. With the game taking place less than 48 hours after facing No. 1 Kentucky in Miami, USF head coach Orlando Antigua was happy with the way his team competed on Sunday afternoon.

 

“I’m pleased with how we took care of and shared the ball,” said Antigua. “I would have liked to have the same defensive lockdown that we had in the first half, in the second half. But we have to play for 40 minutes.”

 

USF finished with a season-best nine turnovers and had its best shooting output of the season as it went 48.1 percent from the field.  For the second-straight game, the Bulls shot 60 percent in the second half.  

 

After taking a 26-22 halftime lead, USF built its largest lead of the game, 35-25 with 17:13 remaining in the game. However, Savannah State (3-4) kept the game close, getting within two points on four separate occasions. 

 

The USF lead was just four points, 59-55 with 3:01 remaining after a three by the Tigers’ Javaris Jenkins, who led all players with 23 points. Savannah State cut its deficit to three points, 60-57, with 1:47 left to play. However, the Bulls hit their free throws down the stretch. Cousins was 2-of-2 and Roddy Peters was 3-of-4 from the line in the final 1:23.

 

Antigua continues to be impressed with what the 6-11 center has been able to do this season.

 

“It’s a testament to what happens when you decide to work and decide to transform your body,” said Antigua of Cousins who dropped 10 pounds this summer. “He put himself into good shape to play significant minutes. Tonight again, he played 33 minutes. Down the stretch, anything that came off that rim, he got.”

 

Peters was impressive with a career-best 17 points to go with six assists. Freshman guard Jahmal McMurray and junior forward Chris Perry joined Peters and Cousins in double figures with 12 points each.

 

Antigua was also pleased with USF’s shot selection as it went 3-of-7 from 3-point range. The main beneficiary of the Bulls’ patience on offense was Nehemias Morillo. The senior guard entered Sunday just 3-of-20 on the season from three, but was 2-of-3 for eight points against the Tigers.

 

The Bulls also used their size to their advantage, outscoring SSU in the paint 42-24.

 

USF will hit the road for two consecutive games. USF will play at Delaware at 7 p.m. on Thursday and at South Carolina at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

 

 

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