TAMPA, Fla. – Feb. 8, 2026 – South Florida never trailed over the 40 minutes and closed out an 80–74 victory over Tulsa on Sunday afternoon at the Yuengling Center, responding to multiple late pushes down the stretch.
South Florida built its advantage early and carried a 39–35 lead into halftime, then answered every Tulsa push in the second half to secure the six-point win. The victory gives the Bulls a share of first place in the American Conference for the first time in the Hodgson era.
The Bulls set the tone from the opening tip, racing out to a 14–1 start behind interior finishes from
Izaiyah Nelson and
Wes Enis, early transition baskets, and defensive pressure that forced Tulsa into quick possessions. The Golden Hurricane settled in behind perimeter shooting to trim the margin throughout the half, but the Bulls maintained control with efficient offense and ball movement, carrying a four-point lead into the break.
South Florida came out of the locker room with purpose. A
Joseph Pinion three sparked an early second-half push, and finishes from
Izaiyah Nelson and
Josh Omojafo extended the lead to double digits. Tulsa responded with a barrage from deep, eventually using a run to erase the deficit and knot the score at 49–49 with 15:00 remaining.
The Bulls answered immediately. Pinion buried a deep triple to reclaim momentum, and Nelson followed with timely scoring on both ends to help rebuild separation. Tulsa made another late push, cutting the margin to one possession multiple times in the final minutes, but South Florida remained poised, closing the game at the free-throw line and converting key interior opportunities down the stretch.
Nelson led the way with a dominant performance, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds to record his 16th double-double of the season.
Wes Enis added 20 points and six assists, while
CJ Brown contributed 14 points and eight assists. Neither guard had a turnover. Pinion chipped in 11 points, connecting on three timely three-pointers that helped steady the Bulls during Tulsa's second-half runs.
South Florida finished the afternoon shooting 42 percent from the field, recorded 19 assists, and committed just seven turnovers. The Bulls also continued a program trend, posting at least five steals for the 30th consecutive game, tied for the fourth-longest active streak in Division I and the program's longest such run in the past 30 seasons.
With the 80–74 victory, USF improved to 12–2 when leading at halftime and 8–2 at home this season. The Bulls are now 8–3 in conference play and have started 7–3 or better in league action for the fourth time in program history, continuing to build momentum as the American schedule moves forward.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Conference Context – With the 80–74 win, South Florida improved to 8–3 in conference play and earned a share of first place in the American Conference.
- Home Floor – The Bulls moved to 8–2 at the Yuengling Center this season, continuing to protect home court in league action.
- Interior Anchor – Izaiyah Nelson posted 25 points and 10 rebounds, recording his 16th double-double of the season and controlling the paint on both ends.
- Backcourt Production – Wes Enis scored 20 points with six assists, while CJ Brown added 14 points and a game-high eight assists to guide the offense. Niether guard turned the ball over.
- Closing Execution – South Florida converted at the free-throw line and through interior scoring late to hold off Tulsa's push and seal the conference win.
Up Next:
South Florida continues conference play on the road, traveling to Wichita State on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for a 6:30 p.m. ET matchup in Wichita, Kansas. The game will stream on ESPN+, with radio coverage available 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.
Can't Make a Game? Don't Let Your Tickets Go Unused:
Season Ticket Members who are unable to attend a game have options to ensure their tickets are put to good use. Tickets can be easily transferred to friends or family, or donated to a fan in need. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to transfer your tickets, or Click here for instructions on how to donate them.
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 –
