By Ken Cross
TAMPA, Fla. – Guard Jayden Reid scored 23. points and dished eight assists and the South Florida Bulls had to hold off Stetson’s game-ending 22-6 run as USF won a narrow defeat over the Hatters Tuesday night.
Reid played 29 minutes and had lots of room to find his shots as he went 8-of-11 from the field with four threes as the Bulls pulled out a win over Stetson, who has had a group of injuries to a roster that had to be rebuilt by Coach Donnie Jones.
Kobe Knox was a factor throughout the game on both ends of the floor as he netted 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
Mehki Ellison led Stetson wtih 19 points and Josh Massey added 18. The duo combined for 13 points in the Hatters’ 22-6 finish as they finished the last 7:59 in going 8-of-15 from the floor with two threes.
Ellison scored off the right box to cut the Bulls’ margin to 72-69 with 15 seconds remaining. Reid then made a pair of free throws to ice the game.
Coach Ben Fletcher thought his team relaxed when they built the lead to 18.
“The game changed not because of offense, but the guys came in and got stops,” Fletcher explained. “What we need to learn from this game is to close out games and not lose a big lead. It’s a teaching moment. We have to learn how to handle success.”
Reid scored 10 points in the first 5:35 over the game as he hit two threes to push the Bulls to a 13-6 lead. His shooting touch and his ability to find his teammates in open spots were two of the major qualities that allowed USF to prevailed when they were challenged.
“Just staying patient,” explained Reid about his approach. “Early on in the season, I felt like I was forcing the issue a little bit, trying to make plays, but just letting the game come to me has been the difference. Making the simple plays like the coaches talk about and then taking the shots when I am open. I feel like as long as I do that, I feel like I’m going to impact the game.”
Reid was able to use this speed and skills to play make as he helped De’Ante Green to finish 5-of-6 from the floor with 13 points.
Green pointed out the strategy of communications and the team unity gave him scoring ability.
“I feel like my teammates were doing a good job driving to the rim which led off to easy dump offs and easy shots for me, so I just want to give everything to my teammates,” Green noted.
Fletcher commented on how Reid has built certain areas of his game that make him one of the Bulls’ catalysts.
“The thing I see out of Jayden, he’s not getting sped up now,” Fletcher commented. “He’s so confident with the ball in his hands. Like I told him, it’s not about making the flashy play, it’s about making the right play.”
South Florida’s depth was a major issue as the Bulls outscored the Hatters, 25-12, from the bench and proliferated 18 assists on 28 made field goals. Green led the Bulls’ bench with 13 points while Jimmie Williams scored seven and Brown added five.
“The depth and the versatility of this team is to change up and show different lineups,” said Fletcher. “It’s great to see these guys buy into the depth of our team. On any given night, it can be any of us and when we buy into that, the better better we will be.”