Feb. 5, 2014
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By Andy Seeley
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - USF's Shemiye McLendon hit a free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the visiting Bulls to a 79-78 victory in American Athletic Conference action at CFE Arena Wednesday night.
With the game tied at 78-78, Isaiah Sykes pulled down a rebound off a Victor Rudd missed layup with less than 30 seconds remaining. The Knights called a time out and put the ball in the hands of Sykes, who scored 24 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out five assists. With less than five seconds remaining, Sykes' potential game-winner was blocked by John Egbunu and rebounded by McLendon. As McLendon reached mid-court with 0.8 seconds remaining, officials whistled a foul on UCF's Kasey Wilson.
McLendon made the first free throw to make it 79-78 and missed the second intentionally. The Knights' Calvin Newell rebounded the ball and heaved it the length of the court. It was on line, but just a bit too strong, hitting the back iron and caroming off.
The Knights had to come back in regulation to push the game to overtime and then overcame a deficit in the extra session to get back in it. USF opened a 57-50 advantage - its largest of the game - midway through the second half. But UCF went on an 11-4 run, sparked by a Wilson 3-pointer, to tie the game at 61-61.
From there, it went back-and-forth. Over the final 4:18 of regulation there were two ties and three lead changes, including a Rudd basket with nine seconds left that tied it at 70-70 and setn the game into overtime.
Including the two at the end of regulation, Rudd scored 10 straight points for USF to put the Bulls on top 78-72 with 1:49 left in overtime. But Newell converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:17 left. With one minute remaining, Newell grabbed a steal and found Wilson for a game-tying three-pointer, which set up the dramatic finish.
In addition to Sykes' 24-point output, Matt Williams scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. Kasey Wilson added 11 for the Knights. USF was paced by Rudd's 25-point, 10-rebound effort. Martino Brock added 17 off the bench for the Bulls.
UCF is back in action again Sunday night, hosting UConn in a 6 p.m. ET contest at CFE Arena.