Tampa, FL - Aaron Estrada returned to action after missing a pair of games and posted a game-high 21 points for Hofstra, but South Florida rallied in the second half and eventually earned a 77-70 win over the Pride on Monday evening at the Yuengling Center. Estrada added five rebounds and three assists in the game. 

The loss puts the Pride's record at 6-6 on the season with their fourth straight defeat. South Florida won its fourth consecutive game and improved to 6-6 with the win. 

After Tyler Thomas gave the Pride an early 9-8 advantage at the 16:29 mark, South Florida used an 11-2 run to open up a 19-11 lead with 13:20 showing on the clock. The Pride would gradually chip away at the deficit and a three-pointer from Darlinstone Dubar made it a one-point game with just under five minutes left in the half. The teams would go into the break knotted at 39 as Dubar hit a trio of free throws with 31 seconds left in the opening stanza to even the score at 39. 

An early dunk followed by a pair of free throws from Estrada in the opening minute of the second half put the Pride ahead by four, 43-39. The run was 7-0 spanning the halves to give Hofstra some breathing room.

The score would once again be tied, this time at 50, before Thomas drained a pair of three-pointers during an 8-2 Pride run to give Hofstra a 58-52 advantage with 13:48 left in regulation. The lead was still at five with 10:43 left before the Bulls chipped away and grabbed a one-point lead with 7:45 left after a jumper from Jamir Chaplin. The Pride took its last lead at 67-64 with 4:46 left before seven straight USF points put the home team in front, 71-67, with 1:31 showing on the clock. 

A Thomas basket with 47 seconds left closed the deficit to one, 71-70, but South Florida hit four free throws in the final 15 seconds to earn the win. 

Dubar and Thomas each added 17 points for the Pride, while Jaquon Carlos posted a game-high five assists in the game. 

Tyler Harris led South Florida with 19 points, while Russel Tchewa added 13 points and eight rebounds. 

Hofstra returns to action on Thursday for its final non-conference game of the season. The Pride will host Old Westbury on "Class At The Court" Day at Hofstra with local schools bringing their students to the game. The game will tip at 11:30 a.m. For ticket information visit HofstraTickets.com, call (516) HOF-TIXX, or stop by the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office in the lobby of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The contest will also air on FloHoops and WRHU will carry an audio only broadcast as well. 

NOTES
- Tonight was the third-ever meeting between Hofstra and South Florida, and the series is now 3-0 in favor of the Bulls. It marked the first meeting since November 25, 2014. 
- The Pride outshot the Bulls from the field, 48% to 44.4% and was a strong 13-15 from the free throw line in the contest. 
- The 21 points marked the sixth time this season that Estrada has scored at least 20 points in a game.