TAMPA, Fla, Dec. 4, 2025 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team defeated No. 19 NET-ranked Utah State 74-61 on Thursday night at the Yuengling Center.
The Bulls controlled the matchup from tip-off and secured a significant upset over a team had not trailed by more than 21 points in a regular-season game since early January 2023.
Joseph Pinion led USF with 17 points and five three-pointers, his third game this season with at least five.
Izaiyah Nelson recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Josh Omojafo added 10 points,
CJ Brown had 10 points and five assists, and
Wes Enis contributed nine points and four rebounds.
Adriel Nyorha scored seven points and added five rebounds to round out the scoring depth. The freshman, Nyorha, has scored seven-plus points in each of the last three games.
South Florida opened the scoring and set the pace early, converting their first few possessions and getting stops on the defensive end. The Bulls continued to build momentum through the opening stretch and held a 26-11 lead in the first 10 minutes, using efficient perimeter shooting and strong defensive pressure to create early separation.
USF shot 50% during that span, including five three-pointers on eight attempts, while Utah State opened 4-for-17 from the field and under 25% overall.
The Bulls used a 15-0 run in the first half to grab hold of the game, extending their lead from 19-11 to 34-11 on the run from 12:02 to 4:45. Utah broke the drought with a pair of free throws, but Brown responded with a finish at the rim that restored the Bulls' 21-point margin.
In the second half, USF's defense continued to hold firm, collecting 15 rebounds and forcing eight turnovers. Pinion added two more three-pointers to widen the margin. The Bulls' largest lead reached 23 points, and Utah State never cut the margin into single digits as the Bulls closed out a 74-61 upset.
Utah State came into this game ranked No. 19 in the NET ranking. The Bulls' last defeated a team that finished a season ranked in the top 60 of the NCAA NET on Feb. 8, 2020, when they took down Memphis, who finished No. 59, by a score of 75-73.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Upset Statement – The victory marked USF's first win over a team that finished a season ranked in the top 60 of the NCAA NET since 2020. According to ESPN's Gamecast, USF entered the game with a 33.3% change of winning.
- Double-Digit Depth – Four Bulls reached double digits: CJ Brown, Joseph Pinion, Josh Omojafo, and Izaiyah Nelson.
- Rebounding Effort – The Bulls finished with 40 total rebounds, including 31 defensive boards, with the bench contributing 12/40 rebounds.
- Second-Largest Halftime Lead – The Bulls' 41-20 halftime advantage was their second-largest halftime lead of the season.
- Double-Double Production – Izaiyah Nelson posted his sixth double-double of the season, with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Up Next:
The Bulls return to the Yuengling Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10, hosting College of Charleston at 7 p.m. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ and listen live on Bulls Unlimited.
Tickets:
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
Follow us:
Follow South Florida men's basketball on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Bryan Hodgson, 37, as the program's 12th head coach on March 24, 2025. Hodgson came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he led the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first postseason appearance since 1999 in his two seasons at the helm.
The program, entering its 55th season in 2025-26, most recently won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2023-24 and has made 13 postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments, nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
–
#GoBulls –
