TAMPA, Fla, Jan. 14, 2026 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team earned its third straight American Conference win on Wednesday night, defeating East Carolina 82–71 at the Yuengling Center. The Bulls relied on depth, balance, and an active inside-out offense, with multiple contributors scoring in double figures and six different players knocking down 3-pointers as South Florida continued to showcase one of the most versatile attacks in the league.
Josh Omojafo delivered one of his best all-around performances of the season with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Devin Haid provided an early spark and remained effective throughout, finishing with 11 points behind a season-high three made 3-pointers.
Izaiyah Nelson anchored the Bulls on both ends of the floor, continuing to pace the American in rebounds per game and building on a national resume that has him second in the nation for double-doubles.
Omojafo opened the scoring for the Bulls with a first-possession three-pointer, setting the tone for a balanced, perimeter-driven start. Four different Bulls knocked down a three-pointer within the first eight minutes, and six different players connected from beyond the arc in the first half.
Joseph Pinion added to the early momentum at the 16:39 mark, turning an offensive rebound into a three-pointer, a sequence that reflected both South Florida's hustle and shot-making. Pinion also stood out defensively, fighting for loose balls and creating extra possessions with active hands.
The broadcast noted the difficulty East Carolina faced in containing South Florida's balanced attack, calling the Bulls "a group with all of the skills" and emphasizing the challenge of trying to take away any one option. With shooting threats on the perimeter and consistent production in the paint, the Bulls forced ECU into constant defensive decisions, creating advantages on each possession as South Florida entered halftime with a 44–31 lead.
East Carolina pushed back in the second half, and the Bulls hit a brief scoring drought, but South Florida maintained control throughout, trailing for just 17 seconds over the entire game.
CJ Brown ended the drought with a driving layup at the 6:01 mark, and
Wes Enis followed with back-to-back scoring, drilling his third 3-pointer of the night at 4:13 before adding a floating jumper on the next possession.
South Florida closed the game by leaning into its depth and balance, finishing with five players in double figures and an 80% assist rate. The Bulls sliced and diced the ECU defense with sharp cuts, paint penetration, and quick ball movement, breaking down rotations and creating high-percentage opportunities.
Coach Hodgson noted that the group is playing with chemistry and is the most connected it has been all season, with contributions coming from throughout the lineup and the Bulls executing at a high level regardless of who was on the floor in the 82–71 win.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Conference Win Streak – South Florida secured its third consecutive American Conference victory.
- Double Digits – Five Bulls reached double digits: Izaiyah Nelson, Wes Enis, Josh Omojafo, CJ Brown, Devin Haid.
- Perimeter Balance – Six different Bulls knocked down a 3-pointer in the first half, marking the third time this season USF has had six or more players connect from beyond the arc (WKU: eight players; Georgia College: six players).
- Historic Shooting Company – Wes Enis has now posted multiple games with 10 or more made 3-pointers in the same month, joining a rare list that includes Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and James Harden at the Division I/NBA/WNBA level.
- Conference Production – The Bulls lead the conference in combined team rebounds, offensive rebounds, turnover margin, assists, and steals, while ranking second in total 3-point field goals made.
Up Next:
South Florida returns home to host Wichita State on Sunday, Jan. 1/18, at 2 p.m. ET at the Yuengling Center for the USF Alumni Game. Fans can watch the game on ESPNU and listen live on Bulls Unlimited.
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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.
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