TAMPA – South Florida Bulls head coach Bryan Hodgson knew that struggling East Carolina would put up a fight in the Bulls’ 82-71 victory on Wednesday. The Pirates have struggled on both ends of the floor this season. Coming into the game, ECU had shot 40.3 percent from the floor (348/CBB) and averaged only 68.4 ppg (331/CBB). They also only made 4.8 three-pointers (364/CBB).
Hodgson reiterated that all games in conference play are going to be a tough endeavor.
“It’s tough to win college basketball games,” he said. “It just is. I don’t care who you’re playing. In this conference, it’s really tough. There’s not a team in this conference where you walk in and say, ‘We’re good tonight.’ That’s just not the case. Great coaches and really good basketball players.”
South Florida controlled the game with its purposeful shot selection as Josh Omajofo scored 12 of the last 14 points of the first half and ten in a row. He turned a 31-26 lead into a 44-31 halftime advantage as he did the damage in the last 3:04 of the half.
“I think in that part of the game, I was just letting the game come to me,” Omajofo commented. “I wasn’t trying to force anything. That stretch set the tone for my team to give us that little fire and that little edge to keep on going.”
He started with a reverse layup as he scored off the dribble three times, as his three-pointer with 2:20 to play signified a heat check.
Hodgson played 11 Bulls as five scored in double figures, led by Omajofo’s 18 points.
Haid, Enis Take Turns With Those Heat Checks: Guard Devin Haid scored eight of his 11 points in 3:46 stretch in the first half with a layup in transition off a Pirates’ turnover. His second triple gave the Bulls a 31-24 lead with 5:19 remaining before halftime.
“All the credit goes to my teammates,” said Haid. “We just spaced the floor, and my teammates attacked, and they just kicked it out, and I took the open one. I just wait to take the right one and let it go when it’s the right shot.”
Haid is a stable three-point threat who played 19 minutes. His time on the floor began to climb with his play in wins over Georgia College (13/4/4 steals) and UMBC (9/5/5).
Wes Enis is the Bulls’ leading scorer and had 14 points and five assists with three steals. He was quiet for much of the evening, but enjoyed seven points in 1:29 as he hit a three, made a layup of the dribble in a half-court set, and made a pair of free throws.
“That’s kind of how our team’s built,” commented Hodgson. “Five guys in double digits, and we were close to six. We played 11 guys tonight. We have a great group that works, they’ve bought in, and the 11 dudes that were here tonight, they all get a shot.”
Hodgson also saw 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists from C.J. Brown, and Izaiyah Nelson scored 14 points with seven boards. Nelson had a slam dunk on an alley-oop from Enis to give USF a 20-12 lead midway through the first half.
“Outside of getting a little bit goofy in the second half, I thought we played good basketball on both ends for the majority of the game,” noted Hodgson. “I’m pleased with our effort and time to get ready for another big one here on Sunday (vs. Wichita State).
Pirates Inside-Outside Duo: Guard Jordan Riley and center Giovanni Emejuru make East Carolina a threat on both ends of the floor. Russell finished with 25 points and 10 assists, while Emejuru finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Riley uses his speed and size on both ends of the floor. He drives the ball well in the half-court, and with his passing, he gives his teammates opportunities to score.
“When he had the basketball, we wanted to load up to the basketball, and to his credit, there were several times we did that, and he just stepped up and made the mid-range jumper,” Hodgson commented.
The coach also pointed out that Russell was first team, all-conference in the postseason. He averages 23.3 ppg over his last five games and has played 36 mpg over the first 17 games.
Hodgson explained how Riley can score so well without as many three-point field goals.
“He has been a good player for his career,” said Hodgson. “He defies the analytics as he shoots the mid-range jumper at a high clip. Those shots can be difficult to contest. He does a good job of stopping on a dime and elevating that shot. He’s a solid three-point shooter, but he doesn’t kill people from three.”
Emejuru is second in the conference, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game. He trails South Florida’s Izaiyah Nelson, who posts 10.2 boards per evening.
“He had 17 and 10 and six blocks,” summarized Hodgson. “He has been good. He is the second leading rebounder in the conference behind Izaiyah Nelson. He presents a lot of problems. I thought our bigs did a good job on him in the second half.”