Jan. 29, 2005
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Gary Johnson scored 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds, leading UCF to a 60-57 win over Belmont in an Atlantic Sun Conference game Saturday night.
The Knights (13-7, 6-6) avoided their second loss to Belmont (7-12, 6-5) in less than a week.
The Bruins staged a last-minute comeback: Justin Hares shot off the glass with 24 seconds left, bringing Belmont to within 58-57.
Johnson's two free throws with 16.8 seconds remaining put the Knights back up by three, giving the Bruins an opportunity to tie the game in the last few seconds.
But Will Peeple's three-pointer with two seconds remaining was blocked by Marcus Avant, preserving the UCF victory.
Anthony Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Johnson added 10 points for UCF.
Jese Snyder led the Bruins with 16 points and Hare finished with 12.
UCF got out to an 8-0 lead in the first 3:20, but Belmont methodically cut into its deficit and took the lead for the first time, 18-17, on a three-pointer by Hare with 9:55 left in the half.
UCF hit just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc in the first half and shot just 37 percent from the floor overall.