Photo Credit: Bradley Walker NGSC Sports
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The USF Bulls men’s basketball team had already clinched the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship, but Sunday’s finale was about more than just standings. It was Senior Night at the Yuengling Center, and the Bulls celebrated their veteran leaders by dismantling the Charlotte 49ers in a performance that served as a perfect exclamation point to a historic regular season.
Charlotte entered the contest with a 15–15 record (9–8 in the AAC), while the Bulls looked to protect a nearly pristine conference resume. USF’s only three conference losses this year came by a combined total of seven points—three-point overtime heartbreakers to UAB and Wichita State, and a one-point slip-up against Temple. This matchup marked the first meeting between the Bulls and 49ers this season.
A Night of Celebration and Intensity
The festivities began before the opening tip with a special presentation honoring the graduating seniors. However, the sentimental mood quickly shifted to a competitive one. As the 49ers took the floor in their all-green jerseys, the home crowd welcomed them with a deafening chorus of boos, while the Bulls stood ready in their traditional all-white home uniforms.
A moderate but high-energy crowd filled the Yuengling Center, eager to witness the trophy presentation and the traditional cutting of the nets. The game started with a defensive stalemate; for the first three minutes, neither team could find the bottom of the bucket. USF even burned their only challenge early in the half on a contested play, losing it and playing the remainder of the game without one.
The Bulls Break Away
Coming into the game, USF had outscored their previous three opponents by a combined 68 points—the highest three-game scoring margin against conference foes in program history. That explosive offense eventually woke up midway through the first half, igniting a frenzy in the stands.
The Halftime Margin: USF rode a wave of takeaways and dominant rebounding on both ends to a 15-point halftime lead.
The Perimeter Surge: Once the Bulls found their rhythm from the three-point line, the lead swelled rapidly.
The Exclamation Point: The highlight of the night came midway through the second half when Izaiyah Nelson intercepted a pass and drove the length of the floor for a thunderous dunk. The roar of the crowd was so loud it drowned out the arena speakers, pushing the lead to 26 points.
The Charlotte offense withered under the pressure of the USF defense. The “Yuengling Center” faithful broke into “Airball” chants multiple times as the 49ers struggled to even find the rim.
Regular Season Finale: By the Numbers
| Team | Final Score | Conference Record | Result |
| Charlotte | 60 | 9–9 | Dropped to .500 |
| USF | 83 | 15–3 | Regular Season Champs |
In a fitting coincidence, the Bulls won their 23rd game of the season by exactly 23 points. As the clock wound down, each senior and starter received a standing ovation while exiting the court for the final time in the regular season. After the final buzzer, the team gathered at the home end of the floor to sing the alma mater alongside the band and fans.
Next Stop: Birmingham
The post-game celebration featured the cutting of the nets to commemorate the regular-season title in just the first year of the Bryan Hodgson era (led on court by the foundation built by the staff). Coach was interviewed on the court following the ceremony, expressing immense pride in his players and the fans for providing the largest home crowd of the season.
The Bulls now shift their focus to Birmingham, Alabama, for the AAC Conference Tournament. As the No. 1 seed, USF is the team to beat, with an automatic bid to March Madness waiting for the tournament champion.
What are your thoughts on USF’s Mens Basketball Season Ended? Leave a comment below.
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Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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