The USF men’s basketball program etched its name in the record books Wednesday night, as the Bulls defeated Memphis 96-89 at FedExForum to claim the outright American Conference regular season championship.
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The victory was historic on multiple fronts. It marked the 750th all-time win for the USF program, which has posted a 750-897 record since beginning play in the 1971-72 season. It was also a program-record ninth road victory of the season for the Bulls, who improved to 22-8 overall and 14-3 in conference play.
The 22 wins tie the third most in program history. The Bulls also clinched the No. 1 seed in the American Conference Tournament shortly after tip-off, when Tulsa’s win over East Carolina satisfied all remaining tiebreaker scenarios.
Bulls Quick Start
The Bulls and Tigers came out with blistering tempo, as Memphis began the game with four guards and one center in an attempt to keep up with South Florida’s conference-leading pace. USF grabbed an early six-point advantage at 8-2, but Memphis battled back to deadlock the game at 12-12 five minutes in. By the 11:45 mark of the first half, the Tigers had seized their largest lead of the night at five points, 22-17.
The teams were knotted again at 35 with 3:33 remaining before the break before the Bulls began to pull away. Gavin Hightower ignited a nine-point USF run with just under two minutes remaining, and Enis capped the half with a three-pointer that drew a foul, followed by a Hightower layup at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 51-46 advantage heading into the locker room. The first half featured six lead changes with no team leading by more than six.
Enis led all scorers at the break with 14 points. Josh Omojafo added 13 and Hightower contributed 10 as the Bulls had three players in double figures in the opening period.
South Florida never trailed in the second half, building and maintaining a seven-to-nine-point cushion for the majority of the period. The Bulls pushed their largest lead of the night to 14 points at 77-63 with 8:45 remaining. Memphis made a push to get within five at the 1:55 mark, but could get no closer the rest of the way.
Enis finished with 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including a perfect nine-of-nine from the free throw line. Omojafo was masterful in limited possessions, converting 7-of-9 field goal attempts — including 3-of-4 from three — for 21 points. Isaiah Jones chipped in 14 points and five rebounds, while Hightower recorded 11 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
Wednesday’s win also marked USF’s program-record 15th game this season scoring 90 or more points, placing the Bulls fourth all-time in a single season among Florida Division I programs — trailing Jacksonville’s record of 21 in 1969-70. The Bulls have now scored 2,656 points through 30 games, the second-highest single-season point total in program history.
Both Enis (96) and Joseph Pinion (95) moved closer to the program’s single-season three-point record of 97, set by Tyler Harris during the 2022-23 season.
Note-A-Bulls:
Outright Champions – With the victory, South Florida claimed the outright American Conference regular season championship, having clinched a share last Sunday against Tulane. The Bulls also secured the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, which was confirmed shortly after tip-off when Tulsa’s win over East Carolina satisfied all remaining tiebreaker scenarios.
- Win No. 750 – Thursday’s victory was the 750th all-time win in program history. USF has posted a 750-897 record since beginning play in the 1971-72 season, with three NCAA Tournament appearances in that span.
- Record Road Warriors – The Bulls set a new program record with their ninth road win of the season.
- Record-Setting Offense – Thursday marked USF’s program-record 15th 90-point game this season, placing the Bulls fourth all-time in a single season among Florida Division I programs (record: 21, Jacksonville, 1969-70). The Bulls have scored 2,656 points through 30 games, the second-highest single-season total in program history.
- Perimeter Watch – Wes Enis (96) and Joseph Pinion (95) each moved closer to Tyler Harris’ program record of 97 set during the 2022-23 season.
- Enis Erupts – Wes Enis led all scorers with 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting, going a perfect nine-of-nine from the free-throw line.
