Jan. 5, 2008
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - Despite a game-high 22 points from junior guard Jermaine Taylor (Tavares, Fla./Tavares), the UCF men's basketball team fell 60-58 in overtime at Sam Houston State on Saturday at the Johnson Coliseum. Sam Houston State (12-1) has won 44-consecutive non-conference games at home, the second-longest streak in the nation.
The Knights (7-7) had the chance to tie the game at 58 with 22 seconds left in overtime, but senior guard Mike O'Donnell (Largo, Fla./Largo) could not connect on a 3-pointer. Jeremy Thomas hit a pair of free throws on the Bearkats' next possession.
O'Donnell hit two free throws with 1:14 remaining in regulation to tie the contest at 50. After the Knights' stopped the hosts on the ensuing possession, junior center Kenrick Zondervan (Hoffddorp, Holland) missed a contested dunk that would have given UCF the lead.
"Sam Houston State is one of the best defensive teams in the country and they are very tough to beat at home," said UCF head coach Kirk Speraw. "We had chance after chance to win this ballgame, but did not finish."
The contest, which was the Knights' final non-league game of the season, featured eight lead changes and five ties.
Sam Houston State led 27-25 at halftime after closing the period on a 15-6 run.
Taylor, who matched a career-high by playing 42 minutes, hit four 3-pointers for the Knights. Senior guard Dave Noel (Boynton Beach, Fla./Boynton Beach) totaled 13 points and sophomore forward Tony Davis (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview) grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for UCF. UCF finished the game with a 41-30 edge on the glass.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball. UCF shot 37 percent overall and 27.3 percent from deep, while the hosts made 38.5 percent of their attempts from the field and shot 30.8 percent from 3-point range.
Shamir McDaniel and Thomas both led Sam Houston State with 11 points.
UCF opens Conference USA play on Tuesday at Southern Miss. The game in Hattiesburg, Miss., will begin at 9 p.m. Eastern.
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