DENTON, Texas – Jan. 7, 2025 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team earned hard fought a hard-fought 74–70 road win at North Texas on Wednesday night inside the Super Pit, as the Bulls' No. 1 scoring offense in the American Conference secured a statement result over the No. 1 defense in the American Conference.
Izaiyah Nelson led the Bulls with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals for his fifth straight and 11th overall double-double. His 10-rebound performance built on his conference-leading rebounding total, where he currently ranks No. 1 in the American in rebounds per game.
Joseph Pinion finished with 14 points, and
CJ Brown added 11 points while setting the tone early at the foul line.
Josh Omojafo scored 11 points and became a 1,500-point career scorer, a major milestone in his collegiate career.
Daimion Collins delivered key minutes across both halves with nine points on a perfect three-for-three shooting night and impactful defensive possessions.
North Texas entered the matchup with the nation's 12th-ranked defense, and the pace reflected that early, with the teams combining for 19 points through the first eight minutes as UNT built a 13–6 lead. The Bulls responded with
CJ Brown playing aggressively, quickly making his mark at the free-throw line to tie the game 13–13. Pinion followed by sinking a 3 to pull USF even at 16–16, and Brown converted two more free throws on the next possession to give South Florida its first lead at 17–16.
Collins delivered back-to-back possessions with a defensive impact that shifted momentum, forcing UNT into a timeout after a pocket pass led to an emphatic dunk. South Florida built its first multi-basket lead of the half at 25–18 with 6:27 remaining. UNT closed the half on a 12–0 run, and the teams entered halftime with the score 30–25.
South Florida opened the second half with back-to-back baskets, leveling the score at 33–33 with 16:44 left. The half featured the two teams tied on five occasions: 33–33, 35–35, 37–37, 41–41, and 44–44 as the Bulls kept pace in a defensive-driven battle. USF's offensive rebounding, which ranks third nationally in offensive rebounds per game, played a key role in establishing momentum and helping the Bulls build their largest lead of the night at 62–54. In a critical stretch, Pinion and Enis hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to tie the game at 44–44. Collins delivered important minutes in the paint across both halves, anchoring the Bulls defensively and helping maintain momentum through a competitive second-half fight.
The final minute showcased a one-score possession with 0:46 seconds left, a scenario North Texas has been in frequently this season, entering the night with six one-possession games and four wins in those matchups.
South Florida met the moment head-on. With USF up 68–67 and 44 seconds remaining, Nelson knocked down two free throws to extend the lead.
Isaiah Jones followed with two more at the line. Nelson closed the sequence with a late-clock dunk, the broadcasters called "the exclamation point for South Florida," sealing the Bulls' final possession before the game reached its final horn.
The Bulls secured the 74–70 win and silenced the Super Pit.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Top Scoring Identity – The Bulls entered the matchup as the American Conference's top scoring offense, averaging 92 points per game this season.
- Double-Digit Depth – Four Bulls reached double digits: Izaiyah Nelson, Josh Omojafo, CJ Brown, and Joseph Pinion.
- Double-Double Production – Izaiyah Nelson recorded his 11th double-double of the year, continuing his conference-leading presence in rebounding.
- Career Milestone – Josh Omojafo reached 1,500 career points.
- Free Throw Production– USF shot 27-for-36 (75%) at the line, establishing scoring momentum early and often.
Up Next:
South Florida continues conference play against Tulsa on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m. ET in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ 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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