South Carolina State (1-7) vs. South Florida (3-3)
Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Two guards will be on display as Cameron Jones and South Carolina State will battle Caleb Murphy and South Florida. The junior Jones is averaging 12.2 points over the last five games. Murphy, a freshman, has scored 21 percent of the team’s points this season and is averaging 12 over his last five games.
SQUAD LEADERSHIP: South Florida’s Murphy has averaged 11.8 points while Javon Greene has put up 8.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and two steals. For the Bulldogs, Jones has averaged 12.9 points and 4.3 rebounds while Antonio TJ Madlock has put up 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds.
OFFENSIVE THREAT: Murphy has either made or assisted on 45 percent of all South Florida field goals over the last three games. The freshman guard has 20 field goals and nine assists in those games.
COLD SPELL: South Carolina State has lost its last three road games, scoring 65.3 points, while allowing 84 per game.
PASSING FOR POINTS: The Bulldogs have recently created baskets via assists more often than the Bulls. South Florida has an assist on 26 of 65 field goals (40 percent) across its previous three games while South Carolina State has assists on 42 of 71 field goals (59.2 percent) during its past three games.
PACE OF PLAY: The upbeat South Carolina State offense has averaged 77 possessions per game, the 10th-most in Division I. South Florida has operated at a slower pace and is averaging only 62.1 possessions per game (ranked 349th, nationally).
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