TAMPA - The Wildcats will stick close to home as they take the short drive down I4 to take on the Bulls of USF on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Yuengling Center



Thursday, December 18
Opponent: USF (5-5) 
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa, FL | Yuengling Center
Watch: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/c2e46aec-a846-4020-8398-77b22b9ac5db
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=549517
Listen: https://tunein.com/radio/Bulls-Unlimited-s320681/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/south-florida-mens-basketball-v-bethune-tampa-florida-12-18-2024/event/0D006131D74C2646/



Four Wildcats scored in double figures as the Wildcats battled with West Virginia, but the Mountaineers proved a bit too much as they pulled away for the 84-61 win, Saturday night at WVU Coliseum. 

FIRST HALF

West Virginia (8-2) made five of its first six shots as they raced in front, 12-3 through the first four minutes of play. 

As three Mountaineer starters headed to the bench, the Wildcats (2-8) stormed back as a Daniel Rouzan three ball and a Brayon Freeman layup made it 12-8, WVU, through five minutes. 

Three straight West Virginia threes gave the Mountaineers control again up 21-10, which ballooned to 26-10 as the B-CU offense scuffled. The Mountaineer lead grew as large as 37-17 on a Javon Small jumper with 4:30 to play in the half. 

The Wildcats did not go quietly into the half, closing the period on a 13-4 run to head to the break down only 41-30.

SECOND HALF

The Wildcats cut the deficit to single digits out of the half as a Trey Thomas three and layup made it 48-39 with 15:42 to play. 

The Mountaineers began to pull away from there, pushing the lead back up to 17 on a three-point foul midway through the half. B-CU still continued to battle with Daniel Rouzan leading the way. He cut the WVU lead to 59-46 on a pair of free throws. 

A Seneca Willoughby circus shot and-one from three kept the Cats close at 63-52, and a Trey Thomas jumper made it just an 11 point deficit with seven to play, but WVU pulled away from there against the B-CU bench. scoring 19 of the next 28 points for the 84-61 win. 



USF is 5-5 to start the season under interim head coach Ben Fletcher, who assumed head coaching duties after Bulls coach Amir Abdur-Rahim unexpectedly passed away prior to the start of the 2024-25 season. 

The emotional start to the season has seen the Bulls secure wins over UAPB, West Georgia, Portland, Wright State, and Stetson in non-conference play. USF has lost back-to-back games on the road at Loyola Chicago and Utah State.

The Bulls average 76 points per game and allow 78. They have done so on 45 percent shooting and 33 percent from three. They bring a nearly even rebound margin, and a +2 advantage in the turnover department. 

Four Bulls average in double figures, led by sophomore guard Jayden Reid at 13.4 along with 37 assists. Senior Forward Jamille Reyolds leads his team on the boards, averaging nearly nine per game.



Wednesday marks the seventeenth meeting all-time between USF and B-CU. The Wildcats are winless in 16 attempts, with their best shot coming in a 79-73 overtime contest back in 2016. 


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