Dec. 9, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Sophomore guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) scored a game-high 18 points as the UCF men's basketball team improved to 6-0 for the first time since the 1979-80 season with an 87-65 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday evening at the UCF Arena. The Golden Knights shot 54.9 percent from the field, compared to the Owls (3-5), who shot 30.9 percent overall.
Taylor came off of the bench and connected on four 3-pointers. All six of UCF's victories in 2006-07 have been against in-state foes.
Florida Atlantic led by one with 5:22 to play in the first half, but the Golden Knights concluded the period with a 14-3 run. The hosts took a 39-29 advantage into halftime.
Senior forward Josh Peppers (Memphis, Tenn./Whitehaven) had 12 points in the win and became the 13th 1,000-point scorer in school history in the second half. Peppers has 1,007 points for his career.
Off the bench, junior center Stanley Billings (Orlando, Fla./Oak Ridge) totaled a career-best 12 points to go with two blocks. Freshman forward Tony Davis (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview) chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Owls shot just 26.9 percent from the field in the first half. Florida Atlantic committed 19 turnovers for the game. Paul Graham led the team with 17 points and Jeff Parmer had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds before fouling out.
UCF will play away from home for the first time this season on Tuesday, Dec. 12, facing Minnesota in Minneapolis at 8 p.m.
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