South Florida @ Elon University preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2016 ) Elon University 74, South Florida 61

South Florida hits the road to start a two-game trip through North Carlolina beginning at Elon on Thursday. The Bulls are hoping to find some elusive success away from home.

Last season USF won just once on the road, a Dec. 1 game at Troy. The Bulls have already matched that total after a victory at Stetson earlier this month, a win that snapped a 10-game road losing streak. Now USF hopes to build on that and start 2-1 on the road for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The tight USF defense, which allows 63.1 points per game, will be tested by a balanced Elon squad that scores 79.7 points per game, including reaching the 71-point mark in four consecutive games as the Phoenix have won three of four.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (4-3): The Bulls have been able to have success for most of the season defending the 3-point line and hitting on their free throws. USF has limited opponents to 40-for-144 (27.8 percent) shooting from beyond the arc, which is tops in the American Athletic Conference and tied for 28th nationally. From the free throw line, the Bulls are hitting 77.6 percent, third in the AAC, with two players - Stephan Jiggetts and Terrence Samuel - shooting above 90 percent.

ABOUT ELON (4-3): The Phoenix return all five starters from last season and boast five players averaging more than nine points so far this season. Dainan Swoope leads the way at 17.7 points per game with Brian Dawkins second in scoring at 13.1 points per game followed by Tyler Seibring (9.9), Dmitri Thompson (9.7) and Steven Santa Ana (9.4). Elon has had at least three players reach double digits in scoring in six of the seven games.

TIP-INS

1. USF is the first team in the league to play at Elon since the AAC formed.

2. South Florida F Malik Martin was named to the AAC Honor Roll in a week that included a career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in a victory against Arkansas State.

3. Samuel is averaging 4.7 assists per game, ranked third in the AAC.

PREDICTION: USF 64, Elon 63