Lights out: Wes Enis’ 3-Point barrage fuels USF basketball win over Tulsa

If Wes Enis has proved anything in his short time with the USF men's basketball team, it is that you can't leave him open for even a nano-second. It doesn't matter how far away he is from the basket, he will make you pay.

That's what he did Saturday in leading the Bulls to a critical 93-78 American Conference road win over Tulsa. He scored 32 points -- including 10 3-pointers for the second time in three conference games -- as the Bulls improved to 2-1 in conference play. Both of their wins were on this two-game road swing.

This was after his 36-point effort, including 10 3-pointers, in the 109-106 double overtime loss to UAB.

Enis was en fuego in the first half, hitting eight 3-pointers, the last of which in the closing seconds before intermission gave USF a 15-point lead. He had 24 points at the break without shooting a free throw or taking a shot inside the 3-point line.

That helped USF built a lead it would not relinquish. Tulsa got as close as eight points in the second half, but no closer.

"He's a tough, tough kid. I'm really proud of him, man. He put us on his back in that first half," Bulls coach Bryan Hodgson said on his postgame radio show.

Enis appeared on the radar after two standout seasons at Lincoln Memorial in Division II. It was there that his long-range accuracy got the attention of Division I programs. He hit 41 percent of his 3-point attempts there, which earned him NABC Division II All-America as well as South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

He chose USF after considering offers from Minnesota, West Virginia, DePaul, NC State and Iowa. It was a fortunate move for the Bulls.

Tulsa concentrated on keeping the ball out of his hands in the second half, but he had given the Bulls enough of a cushion to get the win. His 3-pointer with four minutes left, gave USF a 13-point lead, and that was enough.

All wins are important, but this one had extra implications for the Bulls. It was a road win over the top-rated American Conference team in the NCAA NET rankings. It also improved USF to 2-1 in the conference and concluded a two-game road trip with two wins.

Tulsa, now 13-3 overall, was 7-0 at home prior to this game.

The Bulls improved to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in the American. They are at home Wednesday against East Carolina.