GAME NOTES: A pair of teams will try to continue their hot starts to the season, as the Alabama Crimson Tide play host to the South Florida Bulls in non-conference action at Coleman Coliseum.

Since losing its only game of the season at NC State on Nov. 23, USF has responded well with back-to-back home wins over Hofstra (71-70) and Jacksonville (79-65). The Bulls are off to their best start in school history under a first-year head coach, but Orlando Antigua's squad still needs to get over its road woes, as it has lost eight of its last 10 away from home.

Alabama recently took part in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., first suffering an 84-74 loss at Iowa State on Nov. 24 then logging a 76-71 over Arizona State a day later. The Tide will welcome a return home to Tuscaloosa, where they have won seven straight at Coleman Coliseum.

The teams have split two all-time meetings, with USF winning last season in Tampa, 66-64.

The Bulls had difficulty with Jacksonville early on in their most recent game, trailing by one at halftime, but they turned things around in the second stanza and eventually pulled away for the 14-point victory. They shot 48.4 percent from the field and scored 21 points off of 15 Jacksonville turnovers. Corey Allen Jr. set the pace with a career-high 29 points, draining 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the process. Anthony Collins tallied 13 points, seven assists and five steals, while Nehemias Morillo added 12 points.

USF has played very well on both ends of the floor this season, as it outshoots its opponents from the field, 49.4 percent to 36.8 percent, for a +6.2 scoring margin. Its success early this season has come in spite of a poor 3-point shooting effort (30.9 percent) and it commits more turnovers per game (14.7) than it forces (14.0). Allen's career-best performance the last time out made him the scoring leader with 15.8 ppg. Chris Perry (13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Morillo (11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Collins (10.3 ppg, 7.3 apg) round out the double-digit producers, with all four top scorers shooting at least 50 percent from the field.

The Tide battled through 10 ties and nine lead changes with Arizona State in their latest bout but took the lead for good on a Levi Randolph field goal with 45 seconds left and sealed the victory by shooting 6-of-6 at the foul line in the remaining time. The difference was made at the charity stripe, where the Tide was nearly automatic at 26-of-29, while ASU was just 14-of-24. Randolph, in addition to sinking the game-winner, was perfect at the line on 10 attempts on his way to a game-high 28 points. Ricky Tarrant was also outstanding, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range en route to 21 points off the bench.

On the season, Alabama has made a habit of posting stellar offensive performances, as it shoots 45.6 percent from the field and 81.5 percent at the foul line for 78.6 ppg, which is more than enough to support a modest scoring defense (70.0 ppg). Randolph (20.6 ppg) has been red-hot to start the season, as he not only shoots 53.4 percent from the field but he's yet to miss on 35 free-throw attempts. Tarrant (13.4 ppg) is a great sixth man and Rodney Cooper (10.8 ppg) and Shannon Hale (10.2 ppg) are also integral pieces.

USF appears to be a much-improved team under its new head coach, but while it should give Alabama a good run, the Tide's prowess on their home floor is well established and they should find a way to pull this one out.