> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bulls Basketball Newsletter: USF's win streak is halted in another collapse on their home floor - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/bulls-basketball-newsletter-usfs/ - Published: 2026-01-19T15:45:26.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T15:45:37.000Z - Description: The Bulls had two games at the Yuengling Center that went completely different this week. - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44 ### USF handles East Carolina 82-71 en route to third straight win For much of the season, the Bulls have struggled behind the 3-point line. But on Wednesday, USF used hot shooting to propel itself to a win. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/6551003e-e50c-406b-9bf7-39efe2ccbd55_3908x2605-jpeg.jpg) Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner The South Florida Bulls knocked down eight first-half 3-pointers to cruise past the East Carolina Pirates 82-71 on Wednesday night, earning their third straight victory. “It’s tough to win college basketball games, and in this conference it’s really tough,” USF head coach Bryan Hodgson said after the game. “I thought we played really good basketball on both ends for the majority of the game.” USF’s three-game winning streak is its longest of the season. The Bulls boasted a balanced scoring attack against the Pirates, with five players scoring in double figures. USF recorded 19 assists on 25 made field goals. Senior forward Josh Omojafo led the Bulls with 18 points. Omojafo has scored in double figures 12 times this season, the second-most on the team. Senior forward Izaiyah Nelson added 14 points and seven rebounds. Nelson leads the Bulls with 15 double-figure scoring games this year. Wednesday marked the first time since Dec. 10 that Nelson did not record a double-double. Senior guard Devin Haid, a Central Connecticut State transfer, scored 11 points. It was just the second time this season Haid reached double figures. The American Athletic Conference’s leading scorer, senior guard Jordan Riley, paced East Carolina with 25 points. Two Pirates posted double-doubles: Riley added 10 rebounds, and senior center Giovanni Emejuru finished with 17 points and 10 boards. Emejuru also blocked six shots. USF’s defense forced 11 turnovers and scored 20 points off them. The Bulls recorded nine steals, led by senior guard Wes Enis with three. It was a tale of two halves defensively for USF. The Bulls held the Pirates to 31 points on 39% shooting in the first half. East Carolina scored 40 points in the second half and outscored USF after halftime. “We’re in an era where we get valued on our efficiency,” Hodgson said when asked about the second-half dip. “Our goal is to compete to win the American Conference and play in the NCAA Tournament. We want to put ourselves in a position to get proper seeding and put ourselves in an at-large conversation.” Unfortunately for Hodgson, his team’s sluggish play carried into its next game. --- ### USF stifled late in overtime loss to Wichita State When USF built a 12-point lead early in the second half, it appeared poised to cruise to a fourth straight win. Instead, stagnant offense and critical mistakes down the stretch allowed Wichita State to escape with an 86-85 overtime victory. The Shockers quite literally stole the game. In overtime, with the Bulls leading by one point, USF forced a missed shot by senior forward Karon Boyd. Joseph Pinion secured the rebound and found Wes Enis streaking down the floor. With fewer than 25 seconds remaining, The Bulls sharpshooter appeared destined to be fouled with a chance to give them a three-point lead. Instead, he panicked and attempted a flip a pass to senior guard C.J. Brown that was intercepted by senior guard Kenyon Giles, who spun in the game-winning layup on the other end. “I feel like I’m a high-IQ guy, and that play didn’t show that at all,” Enis said. “I feel like I let my team down.” The turnover capped an offensive collapse for USF. The Bulls went more than eight minutes without a field goal to close regulation and open overtime. USF committed seven turnovers combined in the second half and overtime. Of the Bulls’ 49 points in the second half and overtime, 32 came on fast breaks or at the free-throw line. “I’ve got to do a better job preparing us to win close basketball games,” Hodgson said. “I’m doing these guys a disservice. I’ve got to put us in a better situation to win games against good teams, get through adversity and make better decisions down the stretch.” Two weeks earlier, USF surrendered a double-digit second-half lead in a double-overtime loss to UAB. The Bulls are now 1-2 in overtime games this season. Wichita State grabbed seven offensive rebounds in overtime. Junior center Will Berg secured three of them and finished with eight offensive rebounds and 15 total rebounds. “In overtime, there has to be a sense of urgency that you have to have that basketball, and we just didn’t have it,” Hodgson said. USF’s start mirrored its finish. The Bulls sleepwalked into a 15-point deficit nine minutes into the game. They responded with a 21-7 run to close the half and cut the Shockers’ lead to one at the break. USF then opened the second half with a 15-1 run to build a 13-point lead. Wichita State chipped away before taking a 74-73 lead with 1:43 remaining. Pinion led USF with 21 points, his sixth 20-point game of the season — the most on the team. Omojafo added 17 points, while Brown finished with 16 points and eight assists. Giles scored a game-high 22 points, his eighth 20-point performance of the season. Boyd added 17 points and seven rebounds. The Bulls are a few plays away from sitting atop the conference with a 5-0 record against American opponents. Instead, USF is in a four-way tie for third place at 3-2 in conference play. Up next, the Bulls travel to UAB for a rematch Wednesday before hosting conference leader FAU at the Yuengling Center on Sunday.