Nov. 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Senior guard Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) scored a game-high 28 points to lift the UCF men's basketball team to an 83-57 exhibition game victory over Florida Southern at the new UCF Arena on Tuesday evening. O'Donnell hit five 3-pointers as the Knights shot 50 percent both overall and from deep for the game.
UCF will play the inaugural regular-season contest inside the new UCF Arena on Sunday against national power Nevada. Tip-off for the game is set for 2 p.m.
The Knights led by eight points at halftime and pulled away with a 12-1 run to start the second period. The hosts shot 52.8 percent from the floor in the second half, compared to 22.2 percent (6-of-27) for the Mocs.
Florida Southern connected on just 29.3 percent of its field-goal attempts for the game.
O'Donnell shot 10-of-14 from the floor for the contest. UCF junior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) chipped in with 15 points and six assists in the win. Junior center Kenrick Zondervan (Hoofddorp, Holland) added 10 points and a team-best eight boards.
The Knights dominated inside and finished with a 38-12 advantage in the paint.
Will Graham and Rob Eldridge paced the Mocs with 13 points each.
The contest served as the Knights' second and final exhibition game before the regular-season campaign.
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.
In addition to hosting Nevada, the Knights will also face nationally-recognized programs like Ole Miss and Connecticut in Orlando. During conference play, eight C-USA squads, including Houston and UAB, will play at the new arena.
Single-game tickets are also now on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the UCF ticket office at Bright House Networks Stadium.
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.