Heavily favored South Florida held off a valiant effort by winless Western Kentucky to defeat the visiting Hilltoppers 24-12 Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

It’s the 24th consecutive loss for Western Kentucky, the longest losing streak in the nation, but the Hilltoppers gave South Florida, a four-touchdown favorite, a battle before dropping to 0-4 this season. South Florida improves to 2-1.

Western Kentucky had more total offense than USF (313-276) but did not score against the Bulls’ defense until the fourth quarter.

South Florida scored the only points of a sloppily played first half on a 13-yard touchdown run by Moise Plancher with 5:14 remaining in the half. The teams combined to miss five field-goal attempts, three by Western Kentucky, in the first two quarters.

Richard Kelly’s 2-yard touchdown run culminated an 11-play, 82-yard scoring drive to give USF a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

A 67-yard punt return by Terrence Mitchell set up USF’s third touchdown, a 1-yard run by B. J. Daniels late in the third quarter that extended the Bulls’ lead to 21-0.

Western Kentucky put its first points on the scoreboard with 11:34 remaining when Quinterrance Cooper caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Rainey on a halfback-option pass, but the Hilltoppers missed the PAT kick, punctuating Western Kentucky’s kicking woes in the game.

Maikon Bonani kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Bulls with 5:25 remaining in the game and Western Kentucky answered with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Kawaun Jakes to Jack Doyle for the final score of the game.