Written by Michael Logan.
The UCF Knights opened their season at home against the FGCU Eagles, winning 96-95 in overtime. They secured the win and started the season 1-0.
The battle started strong, with John Bol scoring 4 points to lead an 8-2 run and force FGCU to take a timeout. Nine minutes into the game, newcomer Dior Johnson was hot, leading the way with 7 points and burying a big three to send the crowd into a frenzy. UCF led 20-17, but some poor defense kept the Eagles within reach at 9:30.
The next timeout, UCF was still struggling to pull away with a 30-27 lead. They struggled to sink in some tough shots and poor consistency on defense plagued the Knights throughout the first half.
For the first time in the game, UCF was trailing the Eagles 38-36 lead heading into halftime. The struggles on both sides of the court continued for the Knights, with Riley Kugel at 0 points making no impact on the game.
To stay in this game, the Knights would need to play tougher defense in the paint as they failed to outrebound the ball. Riley needed to activate himself and reassert himself as one of the biggest offensive engines for the Knights.
Coming out of the half, Dior Johnson stepped up, dropping 17 and stealing the lead back for the Knights, making the score 47-44, with 16:25 left going into a TV timeout.
Coming out of stoppage, Johnson continued to dominate, scoring 7 more points, forcing FGCU to take a timeout and kept UCF in the lead at 56-49 with 13:34 left in the game.
FGCU wouldn’t go away without making some clutch shots, holding the Knights to a six-point lead. With UCF holding the lead 69-64 with 8:13 on the clock, FGCU stepped up with some good shooting and their ability to get to the free-throw line.
With 4:45 left in the game, UCF was leading 74-73, with strong performances from Lewis Walker and Arturo Dean, who knocked down a big three to put the Knights up 79-76. Seconds later, Isaiah Malone fouled out of the game, leaving a hole in UCF’s defense for the last 3 minutes of the game.
FGCU calls another timeout while UCF leads 81-78 with 1:47 left on the clock. UCF’s defense was able to force a shot clock violation and take it the other way, scoring two to keep a three-point lead.
With 1:06 left on the clock, the refs overturned a three-pointer, and gave John Bol two free throws. Missing both, FGCU drives the other way.
The Eagles travel and turn the ball over with 39 seconds left. Then, Arturo Dean is fouled and banks a free throw to give the Knights a small two-point lead.
Using a timeout to effectively plan for a final play, FGCU scores at the buzzer to make overtime in Orlando.
UCF dominates the opening of overtime, dropping seven unanswered points. A big three from Dior Johnson forces another timeout by FGCU.
Only seconds after, FGCU responds by scoring 5 points, keeping UCFs lead to just two points, making it 89-87 with 2:26 left in overtime.
In a back and forth battle, it came down to the final minute where Dior Johnson went past the defense and made a layup. Great defense and excellent execution would secure the win for UCF, with the final score being 96-95.
Dior Johnson would walk off the court with 41 points made. Behind him were Lewis Walker scoring 16 points, and Arturo Dean with 15. Despite having thirteen minutes of play, Riley Kugel had no stats that contributed to the Knights.
UCF starts off the season 1-0, looking to continue their non-conference slate against Yale at the Addition Financial Arena this Friday at 7:00 PM.
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