GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Continue War on I-4 Rivalry on Thursday

[Brad]

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Bulls Continue War on I-4 Rivalry on Thursday

Da Silva is 11 rebounds shy of setting the freshman rebounding record at USF

Matchup: UCF (19-10, 10-7 The American) at USF (7-20, 1-15)
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome (10,411)
Watch: ESPNU (Allen Bestwick, Mark Wise)
Radio: 820 AM (Jim Lighthall, Jim Louk)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Watch

TAMPA, MARCH 1, 2017 – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team is back at home to host UCF in a War on I-4 rivalry game on Thursday night.

The Bulls enter the contest following a road game at Tulsa (2/23). Junior guard Geno Thorpe (Pittsburgh) led USF with a game-high 24 points, five assists and five steals. Redshirt freshman forward Tulio Da Silva (Brazil) also added 10 points.

Da Silva has 188 rebounds at USF and needs 11 more to pass John Egbunu (2013-14) for the most rebounds by a freshman in program history.

Thorpe has scored 20 or more points in four of the last six games and is averaging 21 points during that timeframe.

Promotions

·   The first 1,000 fans at the Sun Dome will receive a free USF window cling.

·   For students, the first 100 guests will receive access to the Coca-Cole Student Club for free pizza and drinks.

·   Fans can take their photo with the War on I-4 trophy at Gate A.

The Opponent

UCF has won four straight games, including a 53-49 victory over No. 15 Cincinnati on Sunday. Sophomore B.J. Taylor tallied 27 points in the upset.

Taylor leads the team in scoring (17.2 ppg) and assists (3.6). Sophomore Tacko Fall also averages 11.7 points per game with team highs in rebounds (9.7) and blocks (2.5).

The Knights are currently fourth in the conference standings.

UCF is second in the conference in scoring defense (60.7).

USF leads the all-time series, 22-12, including a 12-4 mark at home. The Knights won the last meeting, 86-64 (1/17). Thorpe posted 22 points and six assists in the prior meeting.

Notables

• The Bulls are shooting 35 percent on three-pointers, fifth best in The American.
• Under Coach Murry Bartow’s guidance, the Bulls are averaging seven made three-pointers per game, up from five. USF is also making free throws at a 69 percent clip, a five percent jump.
• Thorpe ranks second in The American in free throw percentage (.863), fourth in steals (1.6), fifth in assists per game (4.4) and seventh in scoring (15.1).
• Junior center Ruben Guerrero (Spain) has 113 blocks at USF, sixth-most in program history.
• Da Silva has posted 10+ points in seven of the last nine games.
• USF matched a season high with 12 steals against Tulsa (2/23).
• The Bulls have used 14 different starting lineups this season, fifth most in Division 1 men’s basketball. (Chicago State, 17).
• This year, USF is one of four NCAA Division I teams with no seniors on its roster. The other three are Bradley, Penn State and UT-Rio Grande Valley.
• The next USF Basketball Radio Show will be on Monday, March 6 from World of Beer on Fowler Ave. Join interim head coach Murry Bartow and the voice of the Bulls, Jim Lighthall, for the one-hour show starting at 7 p.m. Listen live on 820-AM or online at GoUSFBulls.com.