Nov. 3, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Playing in its first contest inside the new UCF Arena, the UCF men's basketball team posted an 86-78 exhibition game victory over St. Leo on Saturday morning. Junior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) scored 28 points in the win.
The contest was played before UCF's football Homecoming game with Marshall. The Knights open the regular season on Nov. 11, hosting national power Nevada.
UCF senior guard Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) hit 7-of-10 from 3-point range and finished with 22 points. Taylor hit four 3-pointers and also added eight boards and two blocks in 32 minutes.
The Knights shot 45.2 percent overall and hit 12 3-pointers. The hosts connected on 18-of-20 (90 percent) from the free-throw line.
St. Leo's Jordan Prais kept the game close for the Lions. He finished with 30 points and made 18-of-19 at the free-throw line. The Lions shot 88.5 percent from the stripe and 46.9 percent overall for the contest.
"Certainly there are things coming out of this game that we need to work harder on," said UCF head coach Kirk Speraw. "We will get better in a lot of things. It is a starting point."
UCF led 45-42 at the break after leading by as many as 12 points at in the first half. The Knights opened the second period with a 9-3 run.
Senior guard Chip Cartwright (Houston, Texas/Phillis Wheatley) totaled seven assists in the win.
Kyle Rowland scored 19 points for St. Leo and Dusty Driggs hit six treys on his way to 18 points.
UCF will play its final exhibition game on Tuesday, hosting Florida Southern at 7 p.m. Admission to the game is free.
The Knights are slated to play 16 regular-season contests at the new arena this year.
Season tickets are currently available by calling 407-UCF-1000. One lucky season ticket holder will get to drive home from the new UCF Arena in a brand new 2008 UCF edition Mazda CX-9, courtesy of Classic Mazda, the presenting sponsor of this year's season ticket drive. UCF fans who purchase two season tickets be automatically entered into a drawing to win the Mazda CX-9.
Single-game tickets are also now on sale.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.