TAMPA, Fla., March 13, 2026 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team closed the regular season dominantly, winning their second regular-season conference championship in program history, ending conference play on a nine-game win streak. Take a look back at the ride through the camera lens of USF Athletics photographer
Stephen Galvin and feature writer
Joey Johnston.
OPENING NIGHT: In USF's show-stopping Nov. 3 debut — a 102-67 victory against Florida A&M — Izaiyah Nelson (35) brought down the house with a powerful double-double, while Wes Enis (2) gave a sneak preview of his 3-point range with five triples.
OFFENSIVE SHOWCASE: Head coach Bryan Hodgson pointed the way to a Nov. 8 neutral-site game at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., and Josh Omojafo made himself at home with a season-high 33 points, but it wasn't enough in a back-and-forth 99-95 defeat against the George Washington Revolutionaries.
LOVE WINS: The memories flowed for point guard CJ Brown (11) on Nov. 16 during the inaugural Love Wins Classic, which honored the memory of the late head coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, in a road contest between his two programs, the USF Bulls and the Kennesaw State Owls. USF prevailed 108-89 and associate head coach Tee Butters directed a smorgasbord of high-scoring options, including freshman Caleb Sanders (7).
ROAD BLUES: Point guard CJ Brown had his eye on a Big 12 Conference road upset when the Bulls traveled to Oklahoma State on Nov. 19. For a while, Izaiyah Nelson (35) and USF rose above expectations, but the Bulls were deflated in a high-scoring second half, falling 103-95.
ALMOST PARADISE: At the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 26, the Bulls preached togetherness and all-out effort — displayed by the diving Isaiah Jones — against the VCU Rams, who nonetheless overcame a nine-point first-half deficit to down USF 78-66.
SPIRITED COMEBACK: USF's Izaiyah Nelson (35) could hardly believe his eyes when the Bulls fell behind by 17 points in the first half, but head coach Bryan Hodgson kept the faith, directing the Bulls to a riveting 97-91 overtime victory against Western Kentucky on Nov. 27 at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
OUT OF RANGE: Freshman point guard Gavin Hightower (9) was floating and senior center Daimion Collins (6) was jamming, but it was Colorado State hitting from long range (16-for-22 on 3-pointers) that told the tale in USF's 83-68 defeat on Nov. 28 at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
FAN-DEMONIUM AT HOME: The Bulls never trailed on Dec. 4 at the Yuengling Center, registering an impressive 74-61 non-conference victory against powerful Utah State, a performance that kept many fans until the end, when they showed appreciation while collecting autographs and photos of USF players.
FRESHMAN FLASH: Who was that flying freshman on Dec. 10 when USF defeated the College of Charleston 81-75? It was none other than Tristan Beckford (10), who delivered a season-high 17 points off the bench (after scoring just three points in the season's first nine games).
LOW TIDE: Izaiyah Nelson flexed his muscles with 25 points and 12 rebounds on Dec. 17 at SEC powerhouse Alabama — where USF head coach Bryan Hodgson once serve as an assistant — but the Bulls didn't have enough firepower in a 104-93 defeat against the Crimson Tide.
HOLIDAY ROMP: The USF locker room was naturally spirited on Dec. 29 after the Bulls crushed Georgia College and State University in a no-sweat 111-50 decision. The 61-point margin of victory was the largest in USF's 55 seasons of men's basketball.
YOU MAKE ME WANT TO SHOUT: During an off-day on a two-city swing trip, the USF Bulls worked out at the Dallas Mavericks' training facility.
ALSO MEAN; ALSO GREEN: Obviously, that proved to be an uplifting experience for Joseph Pinion (5) and his USF teammates, who downed the North Texas Mean Green 74-70 on Jan. 7. As if there were any doubts, Izaiyah Nelson (35) was in his normal high spirits after the victory.
THREE-MENDOUS: USF's Wes Enis helped to shoot down the shellshocked Tulsa Golden Hurricane 93-78, delivering 10 made 3-pointers (for the second time in a three-game span) for an important road win on Jan. 10.
THE EYES HAVE IT: A pair of freshmen — Tristian Beckford (10) and Adriel Nyorha (21) — were worth watching in USF's 97-83 victory at Tulane on Jan. 28 for USF's fourth consecutive road victory in the American Conference.
THE ROAD HITS BACK: The expression of glum-faced USF center Izaiyah Nelson told the story on Jan. 31, when the Bulls fell 79-78 against the Temple Owls in Philadelphia.
NOT A SHOCKER: The USF Bulls and point guard CJ Brown found a few open lanes to the basket, which delighted assistant coach Derek Rongstad in USF's tense 66-58 triumph at Wichita State on Feb. 11.
BEACH PARTY: USF's Joseph Pinion (5) knew there was a point to be made on Feb. 15 at Florida Atlantic, so he and zone-busting teammate Wes Enis (2) came up big in the Bulls' dramatic 83-81 overtime victory.
TAMING THE TIGERS: Wes Enis (2) and the USF Bulls followed through on their winning plans, which allowed Izaiyah Nelson to (once again) display his true emotions in a decisive 87-66 win against the Memphis Tigers on Feb. 19.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: USF's Devin Haid prepares to leave the unseasonably cold temperatures in Tampa before joining CJ Brown for a night practice in Houston. The following day on Feb. 25, the Bulls led from start to finish in a 75-56 victory against the Rice Owls.
CHAMPIONS: The jubilant expression from Gavin Hightower (9) indicated the 3-pointers were falling for Joseph Pinion (5) and the USF Bulls during a 90-62 home win against Tulane on March 1. Afterward, locker-room confetti was falling to celebrate USF's clinching of the American Conference regular-season championship. And there would be more USF celebrations to come.
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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 amidst its 55th season in 2025-26, captured its' second regular season American Conference Championship in program history this season, finishing 23-8. Embarking on their 14th postseason appearance, South Florida has a chance for it's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulls have also made 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 –
