Tampa, FL – Junior forward Ameen Tanksley scored a game-high 20 points, including five three-pointers, and junior guard Juan'ya Green added 17 points and seven assists but South Florida rallied in the second half to capture a 71-70 victory over Hofstra on Tuesday evening at the USF Sun Dome. 

Chris Perry scored the eventual game-winner with seven seconds left in the contest. 

The loss drops the Pride's record to 3-2 this season, while South Florida improved to 4-1. 

It would be all South Florida early on in the contest as the Bulls jumped out to a pair of eight-point leads, including at 19-11 following a basket from Corey Allen Jr. At that point Hofstra would begin to mount its first sustained run of the opening stanza as the Pride would completely turn the course of the contest with a 17-2 run that turned the game from an eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead following a layup from GUSTYS with 5:26 left before intermission. The run was assisted by the efforts of Green and graduate guard Dion Nesmith as they each had five points during the huge Hofstra spurt. 

Hofstra would push the lead to double digits as a bucket from Tanksley with 1:41 left in the half pushed the Pride advantage to 36-26 before the Bulls closed the half with four quick points to account for the six-point halftime lead for Hofstra.  

The teams would trade baskets at the start of the second half until the Bulls got back-to-back baskets from Anthony Collins to cut the Hofstra lead to 40-38 with 17:31 left in regulation. 

Hofstra would quick answer and the Pride was able to push the lead to nine at 49-40 courtesy of a three-pointer from Tanksley with 14:56 on the clock.

Using a 8-0 scoring run the Pride would keep the pressure on and expand the lead to its largest of the game, 57-42, with 9:43 showing on the second half clock. Gustys would put the stamp on the all-important run with a put-back layup following a missed three-pointer from the Pride. 

The Pride would continue to keep USF at bay as South Florida closed the gap to five, 58-53, but Hofstra got a clutch three-pointer from Nesmith with 3:59 left in regulation to push the lead to 11 at 64-53. 

South Florida used a 13-2 run late to eventually knot the score at 66 with 1:25 left on a layup from Dinero Mercurius. 

With the outcome of the contest hanging in the balance, Green would put Hofstra back in front at 70-69 with two free throws with 37 seconds left setting up the finish that included Perry's basket. 

Hofstra had a chance late but were unable to sink the possible game-winner. 

Sophomore guard Brian Bernardi added 14 points, including four three-pointers, for Hofstra, while Gustys had a game-best 12 rebounds for the Pride. 

Allen Jr. led Bulls with 18 points and Collins had eight points and 12 assists for USF. 

Hofstra is back in action on Friday when it continues its week-long road trip with a game at Jackson State. Tip-off from Mississippi is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EST).