Feb. 15, 2014
Box Score | USATSI Gallery
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andy Seeley
UCFKnights.com
TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After Isaiah Sykes tossed it toward the bucket, the ball bounced on the rim three times. For what seemed like an eternity, a much-needed rivalry victory for UCF was sitting right there on the rim with the ball. Finally, as the clock dipped under two seconds remaining in Saturday afternoon's game at USF, the ball found its way into the net.
The final two points of Sykes' 27-point effort lifted UCF (10-13, 2-10) to a 75-74 victory over USF at the Sun Dome Saturday afternoon in American Athletic Conference play. The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak and eased some of the sting of a one-point, overtime loss to the Bulls 10 days ago in Orlando. USF had a final heave at a half-court game-winner, but it bounced harmlessly off the back iron.
"It felt very good," Sykes said with a smile and a sigh when asked about the feeling of hitting the game-winner. "I think this is the best game we've played as a team, together. Everybody contributed something, whether it was a rebound, a steal. We all just stuck to the course.
"We executed very well as a team (on the game-winning basket)," Sykes continued. "Everybody did what they were supposed to do exactly how Coach (Donnie) Jones drew it up."
Sykes' point about the team effort was well-taken. Three other Knights also reached double-digits, marking the first time since Dec. 22 - 13 games ago - that four UCF players scored in double figures. Tristan Spurlock scored 18 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Justin McBride continued to emerge. He scored 13 points, hitting 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line. Staphon Blair added 12 points, hitting all six of his field-goal attempts. In addition to his scoring output, Sykes added a game-high five assists.
"It's all about streaks," Jones said of ending UCF's nine-game skid. "That one's over. Now, obviously, we stopped the snowball and we can start moving it up the mountain. That's what we talk about. We still have six more games to play and then the (conference) tournament."
It was a back-and-forth affair throughout the second half. In those 20 minutes of action, the lead changed hands seven times and the score was tied seven more.
The Knights had not won a game this season when they trailed at halftime. And they were down 38-34 at the intermission in this one. But two quick scores from Sykes and Spurlock tied it up and set the stage for an intense final 19 minutes.
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half. It seemed as though this one was destined to go down to the wire. A jumper from Martino Brock, who scored 21 points off the bench for the Bulls, gave USF a 49-45 advantage with 14 minutes remaining. Later in the half, back-to-back scores inside by Sykes and McBride put the Knights up by five, 61-56.
The Knights led by four with 2:10 remaining on a Staphon Blair dunk. But UCF fouled Victor Rudd, who scored 21 for the Bulls, twice with a turnover in between. Rudd hit all four free throws and the game was tied 27 seconds later.
UCF led 73-71 on a Sykes bucket. But Martino converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:16 remaining to put USF on top 74-73. The Knights had two shots at regaining the lead, but couldn't get them to go. USF had a chance to ice the victory with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. But solid defense from the Knights forced a bad shot and Calvin Newell ran down the rebound, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
UCF is back in action again Wednesday night at CFE Arena, when nationally-ranked Cincinnati visits Orlando.