South Florida men’s basketball and head coach Bryan Hodgson secured an American Conference regular-season championship for the second time in program history on Sunday. The Bulls dominated Tulane 90–62 behind standout performances from Wes Enis and Izaiyah Nelson.
Sports Talk Florida
Enis and Nelson Lead the Charge
Enis delivered a game‑high 25 points, while Nelson added 14 points, 13 rebounds and a career‑high six assists. Nelson also recorded his 1,000th career rebound, and Enis reached his 250th career made three‑point field goal.
Program History Repeated
This marks the second time USF has earned at least a share of the American Conference regular season title. The first came during the 2023–24 season under the late head coach Amir Abdur‑Rahim.
Bulls Closing in on Outright Championship
The Bulls, now 21–8 overall and 13–3 in conference play, need just one more win to clinch the outright championship and secure the No. 1 seed in the American Conference Tournament. Their 13 league wins are the second most in a single season in school history, trailing only Abdur‑Rahim’s 16 during the 2023–24 title run.
Multiple Double‑Doubles Fuel the Victory
Two Bulls recorded double‑doubles for the third time this season, with Nelson and Omojafo both reaching the mark. USF also extended its conference winning streak to seven games, tying for the second‑longest run in program history.
Enis Sets Records from Deep
Enis shot nine‑of‑14 from the field and five‑of‑ten from three‑point range, surpassing 250 career made threes. He also set a new program record for three‑point attempts in a season with 255, breaking the previous mark of 252. His 94 made threes this year leave him just three shy of Tyler Harris’ program record of 97 set in 2022–23.
Nelson’s Milestone Night
Nelson’s 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists marked his 18th double‑double of the season. His 1,000th career rebound highlighted a dominant effort on the glass as USF outrebounded Tulane 43–32.
Omojafo and Pinion Add Key Production
Omojafo contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Bulls a second double‑double. Joseph Pinion added 12 points and four assists while extending his streak of games with a made three‑pointer to 29, the second‑longest in program history. His 95 made threes this season also put him within reach of Harris’ record.
Hightower Sparks the Bench
Off the bench, Gavin Hightower delivered eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. His energy helped USF force 18 Tulane turnovers, which the Bulls converted into 20 points.
Bulls Control the Game from Start to Finish
USF opened the game with a 9–2 run and later used a 12–0 surge to build a 40–28 lead. The Bulls led 49–38 at halftime and pushed the margin to as many as 22 in the second half.
Dominance in the Paint and at the Line
The Bulls outscored Tulane 42–14 in the paint and were efficient at the free‑throw line, hitting 21‑of‑25 attempts. Over their last three games, USF has shot 68‑of‑79 from the stripe.
A Record‑Setting Offensive Season
Saturday’s 90‑point performance marked USF’s program‑record 14th 90‑point game this season, tying for the fourth most in a single season among all Florida Division I programs. The Bulls have scored 2,560 points through 29 games, the second‑highest total in school history.
