BUFFALO, N.Y., March 19, 2026 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team narrowly fell 83-79 to No. 6 seed Louisville in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 on Thursday at KeyBank Center, scoring the most points in program history in an NCAA Tournament game.
South Florida trailed by as many as 23 in the second half before mounting a relentless comeback, cutting the deficit to four in the final seconds and nearly completing what would have been the second-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history and the largest in a Round of 64 or later contest.
Joseph Pinion scored 27 points, adding six assists and four steals while connecting on five three-pointers to spark the late push.
Izaiyah Nelson added 22 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
Gavin Hightower contributed 12 points off the bench. Four Bulls finished in double figures.
South Florida's defense set the tone throughout the first half. The Bulls forced 10 turnovers, recorded seven steals compared to Louisville's three, and turned those opportunities into fast-break chances, holding a 6-2 advantage in transition scoring. South Florida also controlled the paint early, outscoring Louisville 16-10 inside while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
The Bulls cut into the deficit late in the half behind that pressure and transition offense, heading into the break trailing 37-27.
That pressure carried into the second half. Louisville pushed its lead to 23 with 12:50 remaining, but the Bulls never backed down.
South Florida ramped up their defensive intensity, applying full-court pressure and disrupting Louisville's rhythm with active hands and backcourt pressure. The Cardinals went more than three minutes without a field goal from 7:11 to 3:46 as the Bulls forced turnovers and turned defense into offense.
Pinion ignited the run with a three at the 5:24 mark to cut the deficit to nine, then mixed aggressive drives with confident perimeter shooting to keep defenders off balance as South Florida closed the gap.
South Florida's energy flipped the momentum down the stretch. The Bulls forced mistakes and put Louisville on their heels as the Cardinals lost their aggression on both ends of the floor. Possession by possession, South Florida chipped away at the lead, turning the game into a late nailbiter.
A Hightower layup cut the deficit to five with 25 seconds remaining, and the Bulls continued to attack the rim in the closing moments. Nelson added a late dunk, and Pinion knocked down a three in the final seconds to bring South Florida within four.
The comeback ultimately fell short, but not before South Florida showcased its identity - pressure defense, interior scoring, and relentless effort - on the national stage.
The Bulls forced 22 turnovers and finished with 15 steals, generating 24 points off turnovers and 18 fast-break points. South Florida also controlled the paint, outscoring Louisville 44-30 while totaling 18 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points - a reflection of a unit that entered the game leading the nation in second-chance scoring.
The Bulls close the season following one of the most historic runs in program history, capturing both the American Conference regular-season and tournament titles and making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Program Record – South Florida scored 79 points, the most in program history in an NCAA Tournament game.
- Comeback Effort – The Bulls trailed by 23 with 12:50 remaining in the second half and cut the deficit to four in the final seconds. If South Florida had won, it would have been the largest comeback in the Round of 64 in March Madness history.
- Defensive Pressure – South Florida forced 22 turnovers and recorded 15 steals.
- Backcourt Disruption – The Bulls' full-court pressure helped hold Louisville scoreless from 7:11 to 3:46 in the second half.
- Paint Production – South Florida outscored Louisville 44-30 in the paint.
- Second-Chance Strength - 18 offensive rebounds led to 15 second-chance points.
- Historic Season – American Conference regular-season and tournament champions; first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.
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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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