The USF Bulls were back home Thursday night. In front of their largest crowd of the season (6705 fans), USF solidified its dominance in the AAC, beating the Memphis Tigers 87-66 to get their 19th win of the season and their fifth in a row.
Both teams started quickly and benefited from three-point shooting. The two teams combined to go 7-for-8 on three-point shots in the first five minutes. Joe Pinion, Wes Enis, and Josh Omojafo all hit on three-pointers as Memphis had the early lead 14-11 with 15:38 to play in the first half.
Memphis took a 21-16 lead at the 13:15 mark of the half with some red-hot shooting. The Tigers started the game shooting 60 percent from the field and 67 percent from the three-point line. USF battled back and would take a 26-24 lead.
The Bulls would switch to a zone defense, and that would be a big factor in USF pulling away to win the game. Once USF employed the zone defense, it held Memphis to just 1-for-11 shooting as the first half ticked away, while USF took control of the game.
Izaiyah Nelson was a force in the middle for USF, blocking two shots in the first half. He would finish the night with four blocks, giving him 200 for his career.
Nelson talked about the intensity the defense brought to the game. He said it’s the result of the team’s intense practices.
“Very, very intense practices,” Nelson said. From day one in the beginning of the summer, coach doesn’t like to ease it into anything. So it’s just like, it’s a fast-paced thing every day.”
After a Enis three, Pinion made a three of his own to give USF their biggest lead of the night, 32-26, with 5:46 to play in the half.
Meanwhile, the best defensive performance of the season was unfolding right before our eyes with USF in a zone defense that would hold Memphis to zero field goals over an 8:14 span in the half as USF built the lead to 34-26.
The Bulls went on to outscore Memphis 13-5 the rest of the half as USF would hold Memphis to 2-of-22 shooting from the field to close out the half as USF took a 47-31 lead to the locker room.
After starting the half red hot, USF would hold Memphis to 25 percent shooting in the first half. USF won the battle on the boards 24-21 and had a 12-10 advantage on the offensive end. The Bulls forced eight Memphis turnovers and blocked five shots to help them build a 16-point halftime lead.
Enis led the Bulls with 15 points in the half, while Pinion added 10.
USF would begin the second half with a 6-0 run as the lead was built to 53-31 with 18:17 to play. The Bulls maintained the double-digit lead throughout the second half, leading 64-47 with 11:29 to play in the game.
But Memphis would not go quietly into the night, as they cut the USF lead to 68-56 with 8:09 to play. USF went ice cold from the floor, shooting 1-for-11, while Memphis went 7-for-9 to cut into the Bulls’ lead.
But USF came right back, hitting some key shots to shut down the Memphis run and take a 79-64 lead with 4:13 to play in the game.
USF would exchange baskets with Memphis down the stretch to get the 87-66 win.
USF coach Bryan Hodgson talked about the defensive effort and the win.
“I think these guys did a great job tonight, letting them know that their (Memphis) best shot wasn’t good enough. Not tonight, not here in Tampa, the Yuengling Center. They’ve got a talented team. I just thought that our guys were locked in from start to finish.”
USF had four players in double figures. Wes Enis had 20 points to lead the Bulls in scoring. Joe Pinion recorded 19, Izaiyah Nelson had 17, and C.J. Brown added 16.
Nelson notched his 19th double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds, good for second in the NCAA.
USF is now 19-8 on the season, including 11-3 in conference play, which is first in the AAC.
The Bulls will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against Rice on the road.