USF men’s basketball saw its season come to a close Thursday afternoon, bowing out in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament with a 73-68 loss to Wichita State.

The Bulls (13-18) struggled to establish any momentum, shooting just 35.9% from the field while the Shockers (18-13) kept them at arm’s length for most of the game.

Every time USF clawed back into striking distance, Wichita State found an answer, capitalizing on turnovers and missed opportunities to keep control until the final buzzer.

Despite the loss, interim head coach Ben Fletcher made it clear his team had nothing to hang their heads about.

“They deserve some grace,” he said. “Blame me if you need to. But these guys fought through everything this season.”

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The game’s opening minutes set the tone for what was to come.

The Shockers got on the board first with a pair of free throws, and USF countered with a quick layup from freshman guard CJ Brown.

But from there, the Bulls’ offense sputtered.

Missed shots and empty possessions stalled South Florida’s attack, while Wichita State exploited open looks and second-chance opportunities to build a steady lead.

“We didn’t get off to the start that we wanted to,” sophomore guard Jayden Reid said post game.

Reid and senior guard Brandon Stroud provided brief sparks with baskets inside, but the Shockers responded with back-to-back three-pointers and a dominant rebounding effort that kept USF off balance.

Wichita State dictated the pace, dissecting the South Florida defense with crisp passing and efficient shooting.

The Shockers’ pushed a 10-4 run midway through the period, behind Corey Washington and Bijan Cortes to help them stay firmly in control.

The Bulls struggled to finish at the rim, with multiple layups swatted away or rolling off the iron. 

Fletcher said center Quincy Ballard proved to be difficult for South Florida as he anchored Wichita State’s defense at the rim.

“He did a really good job of that tonight,” he said.

Despite the offensive struggles, the Bulls had moments where they fought back, forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities.

Stroud and junior guard Kobe Knox each had key fast-break baskets, but more missed shots kept USF from closing the gap

By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Bulls trailed 38-28.

Related: USF men’s basketball relying on team bond ahead of tournament

USF opened the second half searching for a spark, but misfires and mistakes kept momentum out of reach.

Reid had his three-point attempt stuffed on the first possession, and Stroud’s bad pass led to an easy transition layup for Wichita State.

More blocked shots by the Shockers allowed them to extend the lead 48-32 four minutes into the period.

Wichita State ended the game with nine blocks, five of them coming from Ballard.

The Shockers continued to dictate the pace.

Washington knocked down a three-pointer and Ronnie DeGray III followed with another beyond the arc after one more USF turnover.

The Bulls attempted to counter, with Jamille Reynolds converting on a second-chance basket and Stroud finishing a smooth layup, but every push was answered.

Quincy Ademokoya hit a three to cut the deficit to seven, sparking a late run. 

Reid and Knox attacked the rim for layups, bringing the Bulls within five. 

With under five minutes left, Reid drilled a contested three to make it a four-point game, but Cortes answered with a tough finish at the other end.

Knox responded with a jumper in the paint, but a costly turnover and a missed three in the final minute ended the rally.