USF men’s basketball powers past East Carolina for another American Conference win

The USF men's basketrball team had one of those "take care of business" games Wednesday night against East Carolina. It was a home game against an opponent that was winless in the American Conference, but one that was also capable of being a nuisance if the Bulls took the Pirates too lightly.

They did not.

USF took charge late in the first half and made it stand up for an 82-71 win. It was the third straight conference win for the Bulls after an opening loss to UAB, and improved their overall record to 11-6.

"It's tough to win college basketball games, it's just tough, I don't care who you're playing in this conference," Bulls coach Bryan Hodgson said. "There's not a team in this conference where you walk in saying all right, we're good tonight. It's just not the case -- great coaches and really good basketball players (in the American).

The Bulls had five double-figure scorers, led by guard Josh Omojafo. He had 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

"I was just letting the game come to me," he said. "I wasn't really trying to force anything, and I think that stretch set the tone for my team, just to give us that little fire and that little edge, just to keep it going," he said.'

"That stretch" that Omojafo referred to came in the final three minutes of the first half. He scored 11 of USF's 13 points before halftime just as the Pirates were threatening to make a run. Instead, the Bulls took a 44-31 advantage at the break.

After watching Wes Enis put up more than 30 points in two of USF's last three games, Wednesday night was Omojafo's turn. Enis still got 14, as did Isaiyah Nelson. Joseph Pinion only had nine points, but he played a tough blue-collar game, particularly on defense.

"We've been led in scoring by five or six different guys this year," Hodgson said. "I think that's what is going to help us to continue to grow as a basketball team. You can't game plan (against us) around one or two guys. You saw that tonight.

"We like to feel like we have five or six guys that you're going to have to build a defensive game plan around, and then seven, eight, and nine can also come in and stay in. I think that's what makes us a good basketball team."

USF will try to keep it going on Sunday when the Bulls host Wichita State at 2 p.m.