Feb. 11, 2005
DeLAND - Sophomore Josh Peppers scored 19 points and senior Gary Johnson added 16 points as the UCF men's basketball team outlasted host Stetson, 71-62, in Atlantic Sun action on Thursday evening at the Edmunds Center. The Golden Knights (16-7, 9-6 A-Sun) have won four consecutive games overall and the last eight against Stetson (10-13, 8-8).
With Stetson up 54-53 with 6:21 to play, Peppers drained three-point shots on back-to-back possessions to give UCF a five-point edge. A pair of free throws by E.J. Gordon narrowed the Golden Knight advantage to 59-58 with just under five minutes on the clock.
The Hatters would get no closer as they were held scoreless until the game's final moments - a span of over four and a half minutes. UCF got a trey from junior Justin Rose and layups from juniors Anthony Williams and Will Bakanowsky to take a 66-58 lead with just 1:11 to go.
Rose came off the bench to nail a pair of treys on his way to nine points. Williams had 10 points, eight boards and three blocks.
The contest featured 11 ties and 16 lead changes.
After a jumper from Borislav Djordjic, Stetson led 9-2 to start the game. The Golden Knights then went inside, getting a layup from Williams and two baskets from junior Marcus Johnson on consecutive trips to get within three. A layup by Gary Johnson at the 10:19 mark handed UCF a 16-14 advantage.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and the visitors led, 32-29, at the break.
The start of the game, originally slated for 8:15 p.m. after a Stetson women's contest, was delayed for an hour after the first-half of the doubleheader went into four overtimes.
A bucket in the paint by freshman Adam Gill helped the Golden Knights to a three-point edge with 10:44 remaining in the game, but the Hatters responded, as Gordon scored on layups on consecutive possessions to put Stetson ahead, 50-49.
Overall, UCF shot 53.5 percent for the game, compared to 46.8 for the Hatters. The Golden Knights outrebounded the hosts, 29-21. Behind nine points from Rose and six from Marcus Johnson, UCF's bench accounted for 17 points. Peppers finished with a career-high five assists and Bakanowsky tallied nine points and five rebounds. Gary Johnson posted four steals.
Gordon recorded a game-high 23 points, six assists and six steals. Will Holloman scored 13 points and Anthony Register chipped in with 11.
The Golden Knights close out a three-game road swing on Saturday, visiting Jacksonville at noon. The game will be televised live in Florida on Sun Sports.