WICHITA, Kansas – Feb. 11, 2026 – South Florida delivered a statement performance on the road Wednesday night, erasing a seven-point halftime deficit and pulling away for a 66–58 win over Wichita State inside Charles Koch Arena to move into sole possession of first place in the American Conference.
After trailing 33–26 at the break, the Bulls outscored the Shockers 40–25 in the second half to secure the conference road victory.
The Shocker's 25 second-half points were the second fewest the South Florida defense has allowed in the second half all season. The Shockers missed 16 of their final 18 field goal attempts.
The 58 total points marked the third-fewest South Florida has allowed in a game this season and the lowest total surrendered in conference play.
South Florida took control midway through the second half. A
Joseph Pinion three sparked the run, and the Bulls tied the game before eventually taking the lead. South Florida maintained the lead the rest of the way and secured the road win.
The Bulls' defense set the tone down the stretch, protecting the paint and forcing Wichita State into contested looks. South Florida held the Shockers to 32 percent shooting from the field and just 21 percent from three-point range, limiting late opportunities and preserving the advantage in the closing minutes.
Izaiyah Nelson anchored the effort on both ends, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds, seven steals, and two blocks in a disruptive two-way performance. Nelson's seven steals were a career high and the most by any Bull in a game this season.
Wes Enis added his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while
Joseph Pinion and
CJ Brown each contributed eight points. South Florida also won the rebounding battle 44–37, including 14 offensive boards that generated key second-chance opportunities.
With the 66–58 victory and Tulsa's loss vs UAB, South Florida took sole possession of first place in the American.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Second-Half Statement – The Bulls erased a seven-point halftime deficit by outscoring Wichita State 40–25 after the break. The Bulls held the Shockers to 25 second-half points, the second fewest the South Florida defense has allowed in the second half all season
- First Career Double-Double – Wes Enis recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
- Defensive Identity – USF held the Shockers to 32% shooting and 21% from three. The 58 points marked the third-fewest South Florida has allowed in a game this season and the lowest total surrendered in conference play.
- Nelson's Disruption – Izaiyah Nelson had a career high of seven steals, the most of any Bull in a game this season.
- Road Toughness – South Florida won the rebounding battle 44–37, including 14 offensive boards, and closed with composure to secure the conference road victory.
- Conference Control – With the 66–58 road win and Tulsa's loss to UAB, South Florida moved into sole possession of first place in the American Conference.
Up Next
South Florida continues conference play on the road, traveling to Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 15, for a 2 p.m. ET matchup in Boca Raton, Florida. The game 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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