Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiwicz
The University of South Florida men’s basketball team secured a dramatic 100-91 double-overtime victory over Temple.
The game was a battle from start to finish, with neither team leading by more than five points the entire fourth quarter.
Tied at 79-79 with 18 seconds remaining, Temple had a chance to win, but guard Zion Stanford’s shot was pushed away by forward Jamille Reynolds, forcing overtime.
In the first extra period, guard Brandon Stroud and guard Kobe Knox combined for seven points, keeping USF alive. The second overtime belonged to the Bulls, with guard Jayden Reid knocking down a critical three-pointer and Knox throwing down back-to-back dunks.
Temple struggled in the final minutes, missing its last six shots as USF sealed the win at the free-throw line.
Reynolds finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, while Stroud added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Knox contributed 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, reaching double figures for the 13th time this season.
It was the Bulls’ first double-overtime game since 2013 and the first time since 2023 that two players recorded double-doubles in the same game.
Knox pointed to team chemistry as a key factor in the win.
“That’s just love wins. When you spend quality time with each other, you build a great connection with your teammates, and it shows on the court,” he said.
Temple’s Stanford led his team with 23 points, while forward Steve Settle III posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Owls were without guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., the nation’s second-leading scorer, which proved costly in the final minutes.
Before tipoff, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) honored the late USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim , with AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti and USF vice president of athletics Michael Kelly reflecting on his lasting impact on the program.
“The more people I’ve spoken to and the more I’ve understood what his impact has been, it was deep and permanent. It was almost like he was coaching the league for 20 years, USF has massive potential… there are many schools in the country right now that have momentum like USF has,” Pernetti said.
Kelly added, “People are going to be telling stories about him for years to come. The most important thing was basketball, but he did it by connecting people.”
