TAMPA, Fl. – The Alabama A&M men's basketball team (0-1) dropped its season-opening contest versus the University of South Florida (1-0), 80-63, Tuesday evening in Tampa, Florida.

Two Bulldogs reached double-figures in scoring led by senior Arthur Johnson, who posted 20 points on a 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range and 5-of-6 shooting from the free-throw line. Johnson also drained a team-high five free throws and added four steals and four rebounds.  Classmate Andre Kennedy added 15 points and finished the night 7-of-10 from the floor. Senior Jalen Reeder led AAMU with five boards.

David Collins paced USF with 17 points and Justin Brown scored 16 points.

The Bulldogs were trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half before a 23-10 run and a Johnson three-pointer pulled AAMU within two points, 33-31, headed into the locker room.

Early in the second half, Johnson's layup allowed the Bulldogs to take its first and only lead of the game, 41-40 with 16:27 on the clock.  

A 12-point deficit in the second half was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome as USF finished the contest shooting 56.6 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs converted 42.3 percent of their shots from the floor and were 36 percent from downtown.

USF outrebounded AAMU, 32-26, but the Bulldogs shot 71 percent from the free throw line compared to USF's 61 percent.

AAMU will take on Houston on Saturday night in Houston, Texas. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.