BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The South Florida Bulls, showcasing a potent offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort, decisively ended the Charlotte 49ers’ season with an 86-64 victory in an American Athletic Conference tournament game Saturday at Legacy Arena.

The win, South Florida’s third over Charlotte this season, improved the Bulls to 24-8 overall and advanced them in the conference tournament bracket. The 49ers concluded their season with a .500 record of 17-17.

From the opening tip, South Florida established control, leveraging its significant advantages in the paint and in converting turnovers into points. The Bulls outscored Charlotte 38-18 in the paint and generated 22 points off 49ers’ mistakes, compared to just 11 for Charlotte. A relentless transition game also paid dividends, with South Florida holding a 19-11 edge in fastbreak points.

The game’s most pivotal sequence arrived late in the first half, transforming a competitive contest into a commanding Bulls lead. With South Florida already ahead 25-23, the Bulls unleashed a devastating 13-2 run over a three-minute span. The surge was fueled by the backcourt duo of Wes Enis and Joseph Pinion, who combined for all 13 points. Enis, a guard from Conover, Ohio, drilled a 3-pointer and a driving layup, while Pinion, a guard from Morrilton, Arkansas, hit two 3-pointers of his own, the second assisted by Enis. The run gave South Florida a 38-25 advantage and Charlotte never recovered, unable to trim the deficit to single digits again.

Enis finished as the game’s leading scorer and facilitator, pouring in 24 points and dishing out five assists in 33 minutes. Pinion matched his backcourt partner with 24 points. Their performance provided the perimeter firepower to complement a dominant interior showing from Izaiyah Nelson. The 6-foot-10 forward from Marietta, Georgia, was a force around the basket, scoring 16 points and controlling the glass.

Charlotte, which shot poorly from the field throughout, was led by 7-foot-2 center Anton Bonke of Port Vila, Vanuatu, who scored 15 points. Ben Bradford from Gaithersburg, Maryland, added 12 points for the 49ers, who managed only 33 points in the first half and 31 in the second against a consistent South Florida defense.

The Bulls’ victory was a continuation of their recent dominance over Charlotte, having defeated them by 23 points just six days prior. South Florida also outperformed pregame expectations, covering the spread as an 11.5-point favorite. The combined score of 150 fell under the over/under line of 153.5.

South Florida’s season continues as they progress in the American Athletic Conference tournament, while Charlotte’s up-and-down campaign, which included an overtime win over UAB the previous day, comes to a close. The Bulls will look to their star guard Enis, who has averaged over 24 points in his last four games, to maintain their momentum.