HOUSTON (Interstat) — A surging South Florida team looks to continue its push near the top of the American Athletic Conference standings when it visits a struggling Rice squad on Wednesday night at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Bulls (19-8, 9-5 AAC) enter on a hot streak, having won seven of their last eight games. Their most recent outing was an emphatic 87-66 home victory over Memphis last Thursday, powered by 20 points from guard Wes Enis. South Florida’s offense has been potent, scoring 80 or more points in six of those eight contests. Enis has been the catalyst, averaging 20.0 points per game over his last seven. He is coming off a 27-point performance in an overtime win at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 15 and has scored 20 or more in four of his last five games. The Owls (11-16, 5-9), meanwhile, have lost three of their last four and are trying to stabilize their season. They fell 81-75 at Tulane last Sunday despite a career-high 29 points and seven rebounds from forward Nick Anderson. Anderson has been a bright spot, averaging over 18 points per game in February, but Rice has struggled with consistency, particularly on defense. This matchup presents a stark contrast in momentum. South Florida, fighting for a high seed in next month’s conference tournament, has found a rhythm behind Enis’ scoring and a balanced attack that saw Izaiyah Nelson (17 points) and Joseph Pinion (19 points) contribute significantly against Memphis. Rice will rely on Anderson’s interior presence and the backcourt play of Trae Broadnax, who dished out six assists against Tulane, to spring an upset at home. The Bulls won the first meeting this season, 89-75, in Tampa on Jan. 4. A win would solidify South Florida’s position in the AAC’s upper tier, while the Owls are in need of a signature conference victory to build upon before hitting the road for their final two regular-season games. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Wednesday.