BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jan. 22, 2026 – The South Florida Bulls earned an 82–69 road win over the UAB Blazers on Thursday night at Bartow Arena. The victory marked South Florida's first win against UAB since Nov. 20, 2014, ending a seven-game losing streak in the series.
Joseph Pinion set a program record with his fifth career game of six-plus three-pointers and tied his career high with 25 points to lead South Florida.
Izaiyah Nelson recorded his 13th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, continuing to anchor the Bulls inside.
Daimion Collins tied his career high with five blocks and went two-for-two from beyond the arc.
CJ Brown finished with nine assists, reinforcing his spot as No. 1 in the conference in assists.
Josh Omojafo finished with 13 points.
The game opened with back-and-forth scoring before South Florida began to separate and take control. After UAB tied the contest at 14–14 with 14:29 remaining in the first half, the Bulls answered immediately, highlighted by a Collins dunk at the 14:18 mark.
Pinion followed by knocking down consecutive three-pointers at 10:15 and 9:12, pushing South Florida back in front and building momentum. Omojafo consistently pressured the defense downhill, continuing to establish himself as a player who knows how to get to the free-throw line.
South Florida finished the first half on a 15–4 run to take a 45–34 lead into the half. The Bulls made seven three-pointers, dominated the paint, and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the opening 20 minutes, creating extra possessions and high-percentage looks.
The Bulls carried that momentum into the second half and maintained control throughout. UAB opened the period 0-for-10 from the floor as South Florida extended its lead and continued to dictate the pace. Collins protected the rim on the defensive end, while Pinion kept stretching the defense from deep, tying his career high with six made 3-pointers as the Bulls steadily built their advantage.
South Florida's defensive approach forced UAB into settling from the perimeter, with the Blazers finishing just four-for-24 from three-point range. UAB entered the night averaging four made three-pointers per game, but South Florida encouraged volume rather than efficiency. As the Blazers fell into the trap of trying to match South Florida's three-point volume, the Bulls controlled the flow and prevented UAB from finding rhythm.
Josh Omojafo provided the exclamation point with a late dunk, sealing an 82–69 win that carried significance beyond the box score. The victory marked South Florida's first win against UAB in more than a decade and their first since the Blazers joined the American Conference, signaling a statement road performance as the Bulls continue to build momentum in conference play.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Statement Road Win – The Bulls earned their first win over UAB since Nov. 20, 2014.
- Double-Double Production – Izaiyah Nelson recorded his 13th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
- Double Digits – Four Bulls reached double digits: Izaiyah Nelson, Josh Omojafo, Joseph Pinion, Damion Collins.
- Historic Shooting Night - Joseph Pinion set a program record with his fifth career game of six or more 3-pointers and tied his career high with 25 points.
- Rim Protection – Daimion Collins tied his career high with five blocks, anchoring South Florida's interior defense while adding 14 points off the bench.
- Perimeter Control – South Florida knocked down 13 3-pointers and held UAB to just 4-for-24 from beyond the arc, outscoring the Blazers from the perimeter.
Up Next:
South Florida returns home on Sunday, Jan. 25, to host Florida Atlantic in American Conference action at the Yuengling Center. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. as the Bulls celebrate
Slime Out and
Coaches vs. Cancer, with the game presented by Moffitt Cancer Center. The matchup will air on ESPN2, with radio coverage available 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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