Nov. 8, 2013
Final Stats
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Doug Richards
UCFKnights.com
Box Score in PDF Format ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Making its debut on the new "blacktop" court at CFE Arena, the UCF men's basketball team breezed to a 97-72 season-opening victory over Tampa Friday evening. The Knights (1-0) were led by Calvin Newell and Isaiah Sykes, who scored 23 and 21 points, respectively.
UCF shot 51.4 percent overall. The hosts, who claimed their 11th-straight season opener, led 54-27 at halftime. Eleven Knights saw action in the victory and no UCF played logged more than 30 minutes.
"With that being our first game, there were some positives," UCF head coach Donnie Jones said. "We scored 97 points, but we've got to execute better and do some other things. I tried to play a lot of guys tonight because I am trying to figure the rotations and wanted to give some of the young guys some minutes."
The Knights utilized a 26-4 run midway through the first half to pull away from the Spartans, who led 13-10 early in the contest. Newell and Tristan Spurlock, who finished with 16 points, each scored 13 points in the opening stanza.
UCF recorded 17 assists in the win and limited the Spartans to 38.7 percent shooting.
"It was real good to get out there and compete as brothers against another team," Sykes said. "We are tired of beating up on each other in practice. That is the first time that our group of guys got to come out and play in front of the crowd. Defensively there are some things that we need to pickup on, but offensively I think we did a good job."
The game was the first of 17 home contests this season for the Knights, who will host Florida State for an in-state showdown Wednesday at 7 p.m.
UCF improved to 4-0 in season openers under Jones.
Da'Markco Foster led Tampa with 25 points.