> ## 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.

# USF stifles Utah State, delivers Bryan Hodgson’s biggest win as Bulls head coach
- URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/usf-stifles-utah-state-delivers-bryan/
- Published: 2025-12-05T15:03:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T15:45:49.000Z
- Description: The Bulls used suffocating defense to secure a Quadrant-1 win at the Yuengling Center.
- Author: Collin Sherwin
- Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44

It had been 22 days since the South Florida Bulls played at the Yuengling Center. On Thursday, they returned and earned a signature win for first-year head coach Bryan Hodgson.

USF (5-4) routed previously undefeated Utah State (7-1) 74-61, and the score was not as close as indicated.

[Subscribe](#/portal/signup)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/1ace92c4-026c-4708-9904-90a32c660b3c_5598x3732-jpeg.jpg)

Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner

Utah State entered the game ranked 19th in college basketball’s NET ratings, and 36th in KenPom. The Aggies were statistically one of the most efficient teams early in this college basketball season.

USF held Utah State to a season-low 61 points, well below the Aggies’ average of 88.9 points per game entering the contest.

“We didn’t do that against a bad team. We did that against an elite offensive team,” Hodgson said after the game.

USF led 41-20 at halftime. At the break, Utah State had a measly 24.2% field-goal percentage. The Aggies made just two of their 14 three-point attempts in the first half.

Midway through the first half, the Bulls exploded for a 15-0 run, opening up a 21-point lead. USF never trailed.

USF had all 11 of its fastbreak points in the first half. The Bulls also made six 3-pointers in the opening frame and finished the game with eight, shooting 38.1% from behind the arc.

“By far our best single-half performance of the year,” Hodgson said.

Senior guard Joseph Pinion led the Bulls with 17 points. Senior forward Izaiyah Nelson had 11 points and 10 rebounds. It was Nelson’s sixth double-double of the season, the third most in the country. Sophomore guard C.J. Brown and senior forward Josh Omojafo added 10 points apiece.

USF made 24 of its 32 free-throw attempts. The Bulls rank top five in the nation in free throws made this season.

Senior guard M.J. Collins led the Aggies with 19 points. Collins entered the game tied for 14th in the country, averaging 21.3 points per game. Junior guard Mason Falslev also had 19 points.

It was a much-needed win for the Bulls, who entered the game having lost three of their previous four contests. Last week, USF went 1-2 in the Battle 4 Atlantis with double-digit losses to VCU and Colorado State.

“Every game on our schedule we schedule to win. There are no moral victories in this program. So when we come back from a tournament 1-2, we come back with a pit in our stomach,” Hodgson said.

USF is a perfect 3-0 at the Yuengling Center this season. The Bulls will look to continue the success next Wednesday as they host the College of Charleston.

Hodgson is optimistic about his team moving forward. “We’re still in the building phase and I think you’ll see that our best basketball is yet to come,” he said.

[Subscribe](#/portal/signup)