The USF Bulls got their first conference win of the season Wednesday night in beating the North Texas Mean Green 74-70.
It was a nice bounce-back win for the Bulls after the crushing 109-106 double overtime loss to UAB on Sunday to open conference play. With the win, the Bulls improve to 9-6 on the season and are 1-1 in conference play.
USF coach Brian Hodgson said on the post-game radio show that North Texas is the most connected group they have played all year and praised their defensive play. “We’ve only got them once this year on the schedule, so this one was huge,” he said. “I’ll tell you what, they’re going to pop some people in this league because they guard and they’re connected.”
It looked as if it would be a tough night for the Bulls, as North Texas built a quick 5-1 lead. The Bulls would have trouble holding onto the ball early in the first half, committing four turnovers as the Mean Green jumped out to an early 9-1 lead. The Bulls would battle back as CJ Brown hit a three-pointer to cut the North Texas lead to 9-4.
Despite the turnover problems, USF would battle back and take its first lead with 8:28 to go in the half, 18-16. USF would extend the lead to 23-18 at the seven-minute mark of the half, before North Texas would go on a 12-0 run to close out the first half and take a 30-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It was a struggle shooting the ball for the Bulls in the first half, as the team was 3-for-12 from three-point range and shot 32% overall. USF would also turn the ball over 12 times in the first half.
In the second half, USF and North Texas traded baskets for the first eight minutes of the half. The Bulls would then go on an 18-10 run to take a commanding 62-54 lead, their largest of the night. North Texas cut the lead to 68-67 with 45 seconds to play in the game, but Izaiyah Nelson made two free throws to put the Bulls up 70-67, on their way to the 74-70 win.
Izaiyah Nelson would lead the Bulls with 17 points, also adding 10 rebounds. Joe Pinion would add 14, while CJ Brown and Josh Omojafo would score 11 points apiece.
After a poor free-throw shooting performance against UAB, the Bulls made 27-of-36 free throws against North Texas to help secure the win. Rebounding was also a big key in the Bulls win. USF finished with a plus-seven advantage on the glass, limiting North Texas to just one shot on numerous occasions down the floor.
North Texas came into the game ranked number one in the conference and 12th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 62.3 points per game. The Mean Green defense held the Bulls to 74 points, 16 points below their average of 90 points per game.
USF will face another challenge on Saturday afternoon when they play at Tulsa. Tulsa is 13-2 on the season with losses to Kansas State and North Texas. After Tulsa, the Bulls will return home next week for games against East Carolina and Wichita State.