TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida Bulls made a loud statement in the American Athletic Conference on Thursday night, cruising to an 87-66 victory over the Memphis Tigers behind a stellar shooting performance and a dominant interior presence.
Wes Enis led the charge for USF (19-8, 11-3 AAC), pouring in 20 points and grabbing five rebounds. Enis set the tone early, accounting for 15 of his points in the first half alone as the Bulls established control.
The Bulls took the lead for good with just over ten minutes remaining in the opening period and never looked back, heading into the locker room at halftime with a commanding 47-31 advantage.
The Bulls’ offense was far from a one-man show. Joseph Pinion contributed 19 points and seven rebounds, finding success from deep by connecting on four three-pointers.
Meanwhile, Izaiyah Nelson controlled the paint, recording a massive double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Nelson was particularly effective in the second half, scoring 10 points to help stifle any hopes of a Memphis comeback.
Memphis (12-14, 7-6 AAC) struggled to keep pace with the Bulls’ offensive efficiency. Julius Thedford provided 13 points in the loss, while Curtis Givens III and Aaron Bradshaw each added 12 points. Givens also paced the Tigers with five assists, but the team could not overcome a second half in which they were outscored by five points.
The victory keeps USF firmly in the upper echelon of the conference standings, while Memphis continues to search for consistency as the regular season nears its conclusion.
READ: USF’s Izaiyah Nelson Made Sure The Bulls Were “Ready To Work And Grind”
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