It’d been a while since UCF basketball put a victory on the board – even longer against Memphis.
But the Knights managed to check two goals off the list Saturday with a 72-57 home win over the Tigers, marking just the program’s second-ever victory against them. The victory also ended the Knights’ four-game losing streak.
Coincidentally, UCF’s recent freefall started with a disappointing 70-65 road loss to Memphis on Jan. 22, which made Saturday’s comeback even sweeter for UCF.
“That was my first time beating Memphis since I’ve been here, so that was pretty good for me as well as the team,” senior guard Matt Williams said. “It was good for us to get this win so we can kind of get out of this slump. We feel like we’ve been in this slump because of us and now we’re getting out of it and just looking forward to playing UCF basketball.”
Memphis coach Tubby Smith sped up the pace of the game in the team’s previous meeting to the detriment of UCF. This time around, the Knights controlled the momentum early in large part because of 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall.
Fall’s mere presence in the paint alone forced the Tigers into timid shot selections and UCF made good on the missed attempts with some early hot outside shooting from senior guard Williams, who led the team with 20 points and seven rebounds.
He made five 3-pointers in the game and stands just eight 3-pointers away from tying Houston’s Jherrod Stiggers (2014-15) for the American Athletic Conference’s season record total of 96.
Adding to the number of reasons UCF entered Saturday motivated was that the team wanted to protect the home-court advantage it’s built. In the 2016-17 season, the Knights have lost just two games at CFE Arena — to Penn and SMU.
“That’s been our first priority. We have to establish that when we play here at UCF that we win, that when people come here, it’s going to be difficult for them to win,” said UCF coach Johnny Dawkins.
The Knights (15-8 overall, 6-5 AAC) frustrated the Tigers early (17-7 overall, 7-4 AAC) with an early 13-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. UCF held a firm double-digit lead for most of the game and held Memphis to its biggest halftime deficit of the season with a 43-26 lead. The last time the Tigers were held to a double-digit halftime deficit came against Ole Miss on Dec. 3.
The resurgence of Fall, who struggled with foul trouble in the past two contests, played a big factor in UCF’s commanding performance against Memphis.
Fall was one of four UCF players who finished in double figures with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. Overall, the Knights outscored the Tigers in the paint 26-16.
“Tacko when he’s out there, he’s an amazing presence,” Dawkins said. “He does a great job controlling the lane; he’s big, he’s active and when he’s playing like that, it can be difficult [for opponents] to adjust to playing against someone like that. No one can go to practice and simulate what he does.”
Memphis managed to cut UCF’s lead to single digits a few times in the last five minutes. This time, however, the Knights had a response for every Tigers attempt at a late run. Despite struggling at 50 percent free-throw shooting, UCF players went 6-of-6 in the 1:42 after Memphis cut UCF’s lead to 9 on a pair of Dedric Lawson free throws.
The Knights now will prepare for their biggest road test against league-leading Cincinnati on Wednesday.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
Seminole High School football player Gabe Davis signs to play football at UCF
Seminole High School football player Gabe Davis signs to play football at UCF
Chris Hays talks about who UCF will sign on National Signing Day.
Chris Hays talks about who UCF will sign on National Signing Day.
sgreen@orlandosentinel.com
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