Sunday evening in Boca Raton delivered everything college basketball fans hope for with intensity, momentum swings, and a finish that came down to the final seconds. In a tightly contested in-state matchup, the South Florida Bulls outlasted the Owls 83–81 in overtime at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.

From the opening tip, the game felt personal. A bitter rivalry, with FAU looking to bounce back from a previous loss in January fueled the Owls quick start. FAU fed off its home crowd early, carrying a slim 38–36 lead into halftime. Neither team could build real separation in the second half, as each scoring run was quickly answered by the other. When the horn sounded at the end of regulation with the score tied, overtime felt inevitable.

South Florida leaned heavily on Wes Enis, who delivered his best performance of the season. Enis finished with 27 points, consistently attacking the basket and knocking down timely shots whenever FAU threatened to pull ahead. CJ Brown provided the game’s defining moment, calmly sinking two free throws with under 10 seconds left in overtime to give the Bulls the edge.

FAU refused to go quietly. The Owls matched every punch in overtime, including a clutch three-pointer from Forward Devin Williams that tied the game late. Devin Vanterpool led the charge for FAU with 26 points, finishing just below his season high. Still, on their final possession, the Owls couldn’t find a clean look, and the comeback fell just short.

The difference came down to execution in the closing moments and USF’s discipline allowed the Bulls to escape with a road win in one of the season’s most competitive matchups.

With the victory, South Florida remains 1st in the American Conference, improving to a 10-3 conference record and 18-8 overall. For FAU, that loss puts them at a 6 game losing streak, putting them near the bottom of the conference.