Aug. 14, 2005
VANVES, France - Playing its third game in as many days, the UCF men's basketball team dropped a 78-57 exhibition contest to host Vanves Basket on Sunday evening. The Golden Knights, who are 4-1 on their six-game European tour, were led by senior guard Troy Lindbeck, who tallied a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Entering the third quarter, UCF trailed by only 3 points, but then went cold as Vanves outscored the visitors, 44-26, in the second half. The hosts shot 53.7 percent from the floor, compared to 35.4 percent for the Golden Knights.
Sophomore guard Dave Noel paced UCF with 14 points. Junior forward Josh Peppers added 12 points.
The hosts led by five points after the first quarter, but UCF recovered in the second, tying the score at 16 with 8:14 on the clock after Peppers grabbed an offensive board and scored. When Lindbeck nailed a trey with three minutes left in the first half, the Golden Knights claimed a 29-27 edge, their first advantage since the game's opening minute.
UCF was dominant on the glass, outrebounding Vanves, 41-23. Senior forward Marcus Johnson totaled six boards to go with 10 points.
Sami Driss led Vanves, scoring a game-high 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field.
UCF plays its final game of the tour on Wednesday evening, facing Golfe-Juan in Southern France.
Notes: The Golden Knights traveled to the top of the Eiffel Tower on Sunday morning. The weather was sunny but cool as the group entered the tower on the ground level. When the players and staff arrived via elevator at the top of the structure, they were met by cold and rainy conditions... Vanves is a French National One league team. The squad had several non-French players, including an American who was trying out for the team... One member of the UCF squad is having no trouble communicating in France. Dave Noel, who was born in Montreal, Canada, is fluent in French... The Golden Knights had difficulty adapting to Vanves' gym. The venue had no shot clock. When the 24-second clock hit 10, the officials verbally indicated how much time was remaining. Also, the sidelines on the court were not easily recognizable. UCF committed numerous turnovers, accidentally stepping out of bounds... Vanves is located just outside of Paris... With no game on Monday, the UCF contingent will take a boat tour of Paris and visit The Lourve... On Tuesday, the squad will leave Paris and fly to Nice, in the southern part of the nation.