The USF men’s basketball coach has put together first pair of wins in their past six games, easily handling Northern Arizona, 70-56.

USF men notch second straight win, beat NAU 70-56

The USF men’s basketball coach has put together first pair of wins in their past six games, easily handling Northern Arizona, 70-56.  The two teams played a close first half until the final three minutes, when the Bulls pushed their lead to ten points to go into the halftime break up 33-23.  USF forward, Payton Banks, was strong in the first half, scoring 16 before the break.

The Bulls led every minute of the second half, playing the final seven minutes with double-digit leads, by as many as 19 points.  It was guard, Stephan Jiggets, who carried the scoring load in the second period, with 14 points.  In all, three Bulls would finish with double-digit scoring, with Banks’ 23 points leading the way.  Jiggets finished with 17 and Isaiah Manderson came off the bench to score 12 with ten rebounds, his first career double-double. 

USF led all but two minutes of the game, but do have some things to take away, even in a big win.  They turned the ball over 18 times and were dominated in the lane, 34-22.  They also trailed on points off of turnovers, 25-14, a problem that has plagued them against better opponents.

Northern Arizona lost the game with poor shooting, hitting just 35% from the field and 17% from beyond the arc.  The Bulls hit 50% of their field goals and 45% from three-point range.

USF head coach, Brian Gregory, was pleased with his team’s performance.  After the game, he said, “I thought our defensive effort was very good today.  They run a lot of ball screens, hard dribble drive team, they’re going to get in the paint some, but any time you hold an opponent to 35 from the field, 17 from the three, and outrebound them by six, your guys gave a pretty good effort.”” I thought a big part of the game, when they cut it to five or six, and we responded, extremely well.  Took care of the ball, ran some good offense, and Brown made a big three for us.  I thought he played well.” 

Gregory also noted that USF handled a challenging situation better than they have in the past.  “I thought a big part of the game, when they cut it to five or six, and we responded, extremely well,” he said.  “Took care of the ball, ran some good offense, and Brown made a big three for us.  I thought he played well.”

The win gets the Bulls to .500, 6-6, with their next game at home against 4-6 Charlotte on Thursday, 12/21.  That game can be viewed on ESPN3.  Tip-off is at 7 PM EST.

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