Dec. 16, 2007
RENO, Nev. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Despite a career-high 27 points from junior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares), the UCF men's basketball team dropped an 86-74 contest at Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center on Sunday evening. The Knights fall to 5-5 with the loss.
The Wolf Pack (5-4) made 31 free throws and finished with a 47-28 rebounding edge.
UCF trailed by eight points early in the second half, but cut the Nevada lead to one with 5:25 to play on a trey from Taylor. Marcelus Kemp drained a 3-pointer on the Wolf Pack's next possession, sparking an 11-3 run for the hosts, which sealed the victory.
"I was proud of the way our guys fought back. This is a tough place to play," said UCF head coach Kirk Speraw. "We just couldn't get that stop or that basket when we needed it."
The Wolf Pack have won 28 of their last 30 contests at home.
The teams were meeting for the second time this season. UCF posted a 63-60 win over the Wolf Pack on Nov. 11 in the inaugural game at the new UCF Arena.
Senior guard Dave Noel (Boynton Beach, Fla./Boynton Beach) also recorded a career-high in scoring for the Knights, totaling 20 points.
The hosts led 32-31 with 6:18 remaining in the first half, but Noel and freshman guard Taylor Young (Orlando, Fla./The First Academy) helped the Knights get back into the game with a 13-4 spurt to close the period.
Young had five points during the run, including a traditional 3-point play on a fastbreak. Noel's layup with under a minute to go cut the Nevada lead to 36-34 at the break.
UCF shot 40.6 percent from the floor and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line for the game. The Knights hit seven 3-pointers, with Taylor draining five, all after halftime.
Sophomore forward Tony Davis (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview) paced the Knights with nine rebounds.
The Wolf Pack made 31-of-41 attempts from the charity stripe. Nevada shot 46.2 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from deep.
Kemp scored 24 points in the win and Brandon Fields added 22 points for Nevada. JaVale McGee posted a double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds.
The Knights are slated to return to action on Dec. 28, hosting traditional power Connecticut at the new UCF Arena.
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 UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports photos.