Dec. 9, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
| UCF vs. Bethune-Cookman | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 10 |
| Time | 5 p.m. |
| Location | Orlando, Fla. | UCF Arena |
| Television | Bright House Sports Network |
| Radio | UCF IMG Sports Network - 740 AM |
| Tickets | Single-Game | Season |
| Internet Coverage | All-Access | |
| Game Notes | UCF |
| Social Media | @UCF_MBasketball | Facebook |
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's basketball team will be looking to claim its 15th-straight non-conference home victory when the Knights host Bethune-Cookman Saturday. The contest at the UCF Arena is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
The Knights are 5-2 this season. Bethune-Cookman (3-5) will serve as the fifth opponent who participated in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT last season in only eight games this year for the Knights. The Wildcats played in the 2011 NIT. UCF has already faced Florida State (NCAA), UConn (NCAA), College of Charleston (NIT) and Harvard (NIT). Both of UCF's losses in 2011-12 have come to teams that were either ranked (No. 24 Florida State) or receiving top-25 votes (Harvard).
Season tickets are still available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com. On Saturday, tickets can be purchased at the UCF Arena box office. All UCF students are admitted free with a valid school ID. The first 750 students to enter the arena will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings.
In its last contest, UCF defeated visiting Hartford, 67-48, last Saturday behind 22 points and 11 boards from sophomore Isaiah Sykes (Detroit, Mich.). The double-double was the first of the sophomore's career.
The Wildcats are coming off of a 74-59 victory last Saturday over in-state rival Florida A&M. Bethune-Cookman is led by Anthony Breeze, who is averaging a team-high 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
The game will be televised live in central Florida on Bright House Sports Network. David Baumann will handle the play-by-play duties, and will be joined by former Duke star and NBA veteran Christian Laettner.
UCF fans can listen to the contest on the UCF IMG Sports Network and its flagship station, 740 The Game in Orlando. Marc Daniels will have the call live from the arena. Live video of the game will be available at UCFAthletics.com.
Series History
? The Knights have a 13-7 edge in the all-time series, and UCF has recorded six-straight wins over the Wildcats
? The teams have met in each of the last two seasons in Orlando and last played on Dec. 11, 2010, and UCF posted a 76-59 victory behind 16 points from Keith Clanton
? The hosts led 38-36 at the break, but outscored Bethune-Cookman 38-23 after intermission when big man Tom Herzog scored all 14 of his points and blocked eight shots, helping limit the Wildcats to only 32.1 percent shooting in the second half
? The Wildcats are the first of two-straight teams from the MEAC that UCF will face as the Knights are slated to host North Carolina A&T Tuesday<>< ?="" ucf="" senior="" guard="">C.J. Reed is currently sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules after spending the past three years at Bethune-Cookman
? Reed was named the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points and 4.8 assists per game
? Stacey Beckton, who is on the Bethune-Cookman staff as an assistant coach, is the brother of UCF wide receivers coach Sean Beckton, a member of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame
Last Time Out
? Isaiah Sykes totaled career highs in points (22) and rebounds (11) to lead UCF past visiting Hartford, 67-48, Saturday
? The Knights raced out to a 25-6 lead to open the contest
? Hartford cut the deficit to 31-25 at the half, and got within four points midway through the second half, but the Knights responded with a 20-4 run to put the game out of reach
? Sykes was one of two Knights to record a double-double in the win at Tristan Spurlock totaled 10 points and 11 boards ? UCF finished with a 49-36 edge on the glass, and blocked seven shots in the win
Tough Slate
? Bethune-Cookman will serve as the fifth opponent who participated in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT last season in only eight games this year for the Knights
? The Wildcats played in the 2011 NIT
? UCF has already faced Florida State (NCAA), UConn (NCAA), College of Charleston (NIT) and Harvard (NIT)
? Both of UCF's losses in 2011-12 have come to teams that were either ranked (No. 24 Florida State) or receiving top-25 votes (Harvard)
Sunshine Statements
? Since moving into the UCF Arena prior to the 2007-08 campaign, UCF is 10-1 against programs from the Sunshine State at home
? The Knights opened this season with a home win over Saint Thomas, and will also host Stetson later this month
? Last year, the Knights went 3-0 against squads from the Sunshine State at home
Non-Conference Success
? UCF has enjoyed great success against non-league opponents since Donnie Jones took over the helm of the program prior to last season
? The Knights are 20-3 under Jones versus non-conference foes
? UCF's lone losses against non-Conference USA opponents have all come away from Orlando: at Creighton in the CBI semifinals last season, at No. 24 Florida State on Nov. 14 and vs. Harvard, which was garnering votes in both national polls, at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Nov. 26
70-Something
? Saturday's contest will serve as UCF's 70th regular-season game at the UCF Arena
? The facility opened in 2007, and the Knights are 52-17 at the facility
Showing Off the Depth
? A year ago, only two Knights, Marcus Jordan (15.2) and Keith Clanton (14.2), averaged over 9.0 points a game
? UCF is clearly deeper this year, as four Knights are currently averaging at least 9.0 points per contest
? Clanton leads the way at 16.9 points per game, followed by Jordan (15.3), Isaiah Sykes (12.0) and Tristan Spurlock (9.6)
From the Start
? Keith Clanton will start his 65th-consecutive contest when the Knights host Bethune-Cookman
? The junior's first career start came on Dec. 12, 2009, when he entered the starting lineup against Bethune-Cookman at home
? He totaled nine points and five boards to go with four blocks in the 63-50 UCF victory
Up Next
? UCF will return to action Tuesday, hosting a second-consecutive MEAC program when North Carolina A&T visits Orlando
? UCF has a 1-0 edge in the all-time series with the Aggies, having opened up the 2008-09 campaign with an 81-62 win over visiting North Carolina A&T at the UCF Arena on Nov. 16, 2008