Nov. 24, 2004
Box Score
ORLANDO - Josh Peppers' career-high 18 points propelled UCF to a 97-52 win over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. With the win, UCF improves to 4-0 while Mayaguez falls to 0-8.
UCF opened the game with a 20-0 run and never looked back as Peppers sparked the run with five points. Six other Golden Knights scored in the opening run. UCF continued to build up their lead, which was as many as 29 in the first half, while holding Puerto Rico-Mayaguez to 4-for-33 from the floor (.121) in the opening stanza. Peppers and Adam Gill each scored eight points in the first half for the Knights as UCF took a 44-14 lead into the break.
The second half saw Mayaguez trim the lead to 23, 49-26 with 16:52 to play, after consecutive threes by Diego Garcia and Simon Emmerson. From there, UCF went on a 14-0 run to end any hope of a comeback. The Golden Knights continued to up their lead, which reached 45 points by the end of the night.
The win gave UCF its best start since the 1993-94 season when the Golden Knights opened the year 5-0. It also marked tthe 175th win of Kirk Speraw's career. UCF improved to 19-17 all-time record in home openers while the 4-0 start equals the sixth best start in school history.
Diego Garcia led all-players with a game-high 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. Garcia also added a team-high seven boards. UCF's stifyling defense limited Puerto Rico-Mayaguez to .286 from the floor and just .250 from the three-point line. The Golden Knights were also able to out-rebound the visitors 57-to-20.
Peppers' career-high 18 led UCF while Gill also recorded his career-high with 15. Gary Johnson was able to reach double figures for the third straight game with 15 points. Every Golden Knight to suit up scored for UCF. Justin Rose pulled down a game-high eight rebounds while adding seven points and three assists.
The Golden Knights will be back in action again next Thursday when they open their A-Sun schedule with Gardner-Webb (2-0) at 7:30 pm in the UCF Arena.