USF Men’s Basketball Loses 62-58 to No. 20 Houston

Another heartbreaking loss for the South Florida Bulls men’s basketball team versus No. 20 Houston Cougars (20-5, 10-2 AAC) on Wednesday night as they battled back from down 11 points halfway through the second to make it a two-point game before the Cougars sealed the game at the line and with timely offensive rebounds.

The story of the game was offensive rebounds and second chance points. The Cougars were able to grab 13 offensive rebounds for 17 second chance points, while the Bulls scored just two points off their nine offensive rebounds.

“When you play Houston, you have to have incredible focus in terms of defensive rebounding,” USF head coach Brian Gregory said. “You have to be really really on top of every aspect of the game.

Senior guard Laquincy Rideau scored a team-high 21 points for the Bulls (including a spread-covering layup with two seconds left). Junior guard David Collins scored 13 points, and added three rebounds, two steals and two assists.

But, once again, Collins missed crucial free throws late in the game, missing his final four attempts—two of which would’ve cut the Houston lead to just a point with 50 seconds to play.

“We wouldn’t be in any of those [close game] situations without him,” Gregory said. “He’s also made some big ones. We always just remember the ones that don’t go in. To be great, you have to put yourself out there, and put yourself in those situations.”

USF (11-13, 4-7 AAC) will look to rebound on Saturday when they welcome in Tulsa for a noon matinee. The game will be on ESPNU.

Notables:

• USF never led in the game.
• Houston’s Quentin Grimes led all scores with 22 points.
• The Cougars were a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the second half.