Bethune-Cookman @ South Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2016 ) Bethune-Cookman 73, South Florida 79

South Florida looks to end a four-game losing streak when it hosts in-state foe Bethune-Cookman on Thursday night. USF has not won since defeating Arkansas State on Nov. 24 and dropped three of the last four by double-digits.

The Bulls have remained solid defensively, but struggle to make baskets on a consistent basis and come in off a night in which they shot 33.3 percent in a loss to Florida International. While USF is starting to get inside scoring with the emergence of Isaiah Manderson, who went 6-for-8 shooting and lead the Bulls with 12 points, the rest of the lineup finished just 14-of-52 on Monday. The backcourt trio of Stephan Jiggetts, Terrence Samuel and Payton Banks, who played over 30 minutes each, combined to go 6-for-28. "We've got a long way to go, but we're not too far off in some areas,'' Bulls coach Brian Gregory told reporters. "We just need to get some consistency. Consistency in our work ethic on a daily basis, which will then give us the best opportunity to have consistency come game time.''

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN (5-5): The duo of Malik Maitland and Shawntrez Davis stepped up in the absence of leading scorer Brandon Tabb, who missed the last game due to suspension. Davis recorded his sixth career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Maitland added 21 points in a victory against Cal Poly. The status of Tabb, who averages 19.6 points per game, is unknown for Thursday.

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (4-6): Forward Tulio Da Silva, one of the few returners to the USF lineup, was challenged by Gregory to be stronger on the glass and the 6-7 sophomore responded in his last outing. Da Silva set a career high with 17 rebounds, the most by any player in the American Athletic Conference this season. The 17 rebounds are the most by a USF player since Chris Perry pulled down the same amount on Nov. 13, 2015 against Troy.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulls are tied for the 19th best 3-point field goal defense in Division I, holding opponents to 28.6 percent on 60-for-210 shooting from beyond the arc.

2. Samuel is shooting 92.1 percent from the free throw line, tied for 23rd nationally.

3. Jiggetts needs 18 points to reach 1.000 for his career, which began at Fairleigh Dickinson.

PREDICTION: Bethune-Cookman 67, USF 61