A.J. Davis had the ball at the top of the key with time winding down.
UCF was in the midst of trying to complete a 16-point comeback.
The clock was ticking.
The Knights were down 63-59.
Less than 20 seconds remained.
The situation called for Davis to drive to the basket.
Instead, he took the three.
He missed.
The shot missed the rim and hit the right side of the backboard. UConn got the rebound, ending hopes of the comeback.
The Huskies sealed the victory at the free-throw line defeating the Knights 66-63 at CFE Arena with 5,215 in attendance.
Davis’ shot was at the end of a furious comeback for UCF. The Knights were down 56-40 with eight minutes to play but used an 11-0 run to get within striking distance.
UConn executed better at the end.
“I’m proud of our guys with how they kept competing,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Our guys weren’t deterred. They kept fighting. I could see it in their eyes in the huddle. They gave us a chance at the end which is what you want.”
The loss continues UCF’s downward spiral.
The Knights (15-10, 6-7 AAC) have dropped six of their last seven games. In the six losses, UCF has dug itself into too big of a hole to climb out of.
Tacko Fall is a handful for opposing defenders.
But he’s also a handful for referees to officiate.
Frankly, there aren’t many 7-foot-6 college basketball players on the planet. It’s not surprising to see referees having a tough time making calls for, or against, the UCF center.
Fall just might…
Tacko Fall is a handful for opposing defenders.
But he’s also a handful for referees to officiate.
Frankly, there aren’t many 7-foot-6 college basketball players on the planet. It’s not surprising to see referees having a tough time making calls for, or against, the UCF center.
Fall just might…
“We know we got to play for a full 40 minutes,” UCF guard B.J. Taylor. “We didn’t do that. When we play in conference games like this we can’t play for the last 10. We got to put together a full 40 minutes.”
Taylor scored a game-high 20 points but was only 6 of 19 from the field.
As a team, the Knights shot 34.9 percent from the field, 22 of 63, and made only seven of their 26 3-point attempts.
UConn (12-12, 7-5) was led by its guard play and 3-point shooting.
Rodney Purvis scored 17 of his 18 points in the first half and was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Jalen Adams and Christian Vital added 14 points each.
UConn was 9 of 13 from 3-point range.
“I didn’t know they shot that good,” UCF forward Nick Banyard said shaking his head. “They weren’t contested. We gave it to them. Just hand delivered them. Anybody can hit an open shot. They knocked them down.”
The Huskies limited UCF center Tacko Fall for the second time this year. After not making a single shot in 25 minutes in the first meeting on Jan. 8, Fall was limited to two minutes in the first half. He picked up two fouls in the first 1:24 of the game.
“Right off the bat, that changes our entire gameplan,” Dawkins said. “We’re playing around Tacko. He goes out for 18 minutes in the first half and that’s hard.”
Fall finished with six points on 3 of 4 shooting and 11 rebounds.
UCF’s season has reached a critical point.
With only five games left before the AAC tournament, the Knights have to find a way to get out of their tailspin.
The first game in the stretch is 7 p.m. Tuesday versus Tulsa at CFE Arena.
“Everything we want to accomplish is ahead of us,” Taylor said. “It’s not over. It seems like there is a little time left and we have to have a sense of urgency, but there’s a lot of basketball left to play. … We have to finish strong these last five games and go into the tournament ready to play.”
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
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
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