March 7, 2014
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By Andy Seeley
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- UCF head coach Donnie Jones missed Tuesday's game at Temple with a nasty illness. But he was back on the sideline for Friday night's regular-season finale against Houston. The remedy Coach Jones got from his physician got him back to the office and the court. But the remedy provided by his team at CFE Arena Friday night was pretty good, too.
After UCF (12-17, 4-14 American Athletic Conference) finished their 104-83 demolition of Houston (16-15, 8-10), someone inquired as to Jones' health. While he is on the mend, he indicated that he felt even better after the victory.
"Winning is the best medicine," he said.
UCF took control from the beginning in the final home game for seniors Isaac Lang, Calvin Newell, Tristan Spurlock and Isaiah Sykes - each of whom were in the starting lineup. It took a little more than five minutes for each of the seniors to hit the stat sheet with buckets. Lang, the thirty-year-old walk-on making his first start, buried a three-pointer just one minute into the contest.
Newell was the final senior to score and when he did, it staked UCF to a 16-4 lead. The Knights led by 20 midway through the first half, jumping out to a 26-6 advantage. Houston didn't reach double digits until 7:22 remained in the first half. The Knights led by as many as 25 points in the first half and took an 18-point lead into the locker room at 50-32.
Sykes scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the first half. He finished with game-high totals for rebounds (eight) and assists (six), as well.
"I'm happy for the seniors," Jones said. "Those four guys got to go out the right way. They have all meant a lot to this program, especially Isaiah Sykes. From the time he walked in the door he has impacted this program. Moving in to this new era and into this new league, these guys have kind of been the pioneers to break into this league. I'm just really proud of the way this team keeps competing and playing hard."
When Houston refused to go away in the second half, it was time for a bit of a passing of the torch. Sophomore Daiquan Walker came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points - all in the second half.
The Cougars cut the UCF lead to 15, but Walker hit a pair of free throws to slow Houston's momentum. Walker scored an old-fashioned three-point play to push the lead back to 20 midway through the second half. Houston pulled within 13 with under four minutes remaining. Walker, who dished out five assists, dropped a dime to Staphon Blair for a monster dunk to once again squash the Cougars' hopes of a comeback.
"Daiquan had 20 in the second half and it wasn't necessarily about the scoring but about taking the right shots and making the right passes," Jones said. "He played like a point guard that we recruited out of Philly, one of the best in the country. He needed that for his confidence. He played well tonight."
By the final minute, UCF was well in control and Sykes got to come out of the game to a standing ovation from the Knights faithful.
""It just felt great. I felt loved," Sykes said of that moment. "We have some great fans. It was a great turnout, even though we didn't have school right now. We appreciate everybody that came out and supported us."
UCF put together one of its more complete performances of the season. The Knights shot better than 54 percent from the field, and nearly 78 percent from the line, while hitting 11 three-pointers. UCF controlled the glass, out-rebounding Houston 40-33. UCF blocked nine Houston shot attempts, including a career-best five from Blair.
The Knights' 104 points matched their season-high output. With Sykes' 24 and Walker's 20, it was the first time two Knights had hit the 20-point plateau since the season-opener. Matt Williams and Blair were also in double figures UCF with 12 and 11, respectively. Jherrod Stiggers scored 22 points to pace the Cougars.
The victory leaves UCF with the No. 9 seed in the upcoming American Athletic Conference Championship tournament. The Knights will open play in the tournament Wednesday in Memphis, facing the winner of Saturday's USF-Temple matchup.