Jan. 23, 2008
UCF equaled its best shooting effort during the school's Division I era as the Knights connected on 40-of-57 attempts (70.2 percent) from the floor. The Knights were also 40-for-57 from the floor vs. Samford in 1998 (Feb. 26).
UCF scored a season-high 56 points during the first half of the game against the Miners. The team's 53 points in the second half was the second-best effort in a half this season.
The Knights opened the game on a 14-4 run behind seven points from Jermaine Taylor. The junior finished the game with 24 points. It was Taylor's 15th-consecutive game to reach double figures and the 13th time he scored 20 or more points in a game this season.
During the first half, UCF connected on 7-of-9 three pointers. Mike O'Donnell made all five of his attempts from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
O'Donnell finished game with a perfect 6-for-6 effort from three-point range, which equaled his school record 6-for-6 effort from deep that he set vs. UTEP at home two seasons ago (March 4, 2006). Jason Thornton is the only other Knight to finish 6-for-6 from three-point range in a game (vs. South Carolina State, Nov. 28, 1999).
As a team, the Knights finished 11-for-17 (64.1 percent) from three-point range, which is its best percentage of the season and ties for the fifth-best in the Division I era.
With two steals in the game tonight, O'Donnell moved into ninth place on the UCF career charts with 126 during his three seasons with the Knights.
The Knights had a season-high of 25 assists. O'Donnell equaled his season high with six assists. Senior Chip Cartwright led the team with seven helpers.
Tony Davis had a career-high of 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor.