Knights Stunt Spartans

Nov. 23, 2014

UCF Athletics Social Media Directory

By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com

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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The young UCF men's basketball team was put to the test against a seasoned USC Upstate team and prevailed to the tune of a 76-69 victory against the visiting Spartans. Freshman B.J. Taylor impressed with 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds as the Knights improved to 3-0 on the year.

"I sound like a broken record, I know, but it was another grind out game for our team, our young basketball team," UCF head coach Donnie Jones said. "To see our young team grow up this early in the season has been impressive to me."

The two teams battled back-and-forth to start the game, with neither able to gain the advantage. That was until the Spartans (3-1) used a 14-2 run midway through the first half to take a 33-24 lead on a three-pointer by Mario Blessing with 7:29 to play before the break.

The Knights (3-0) battled back as Taylor knocked down one of his six threes to stop the Upstate run, which sparked an 11-4 run for UCF to end the period. It ended with another triple by Taylor off of an assist by sophomore Brandon Goodwin to make it 37-35 in favor of the Spartans at the break.

UCF came out of the locker room with fire, as Taylor knocked down back-to-back from distance and then stole the ball and fed freshman Adonys Henriquez for a layup on the break to make it 43-37 Knights. Going back to the end of the first, UCF used a 19-4 stretch to gain the advantage back.

The Spartans continued to fight, tying it up as late as the 8:27 mark in the second half, at 61-61. From there junior Staphon Blair sparked a 7-0 run with four points, two rebounds and a block to give the Knights a comfortable 68-61 lead with 3:28 to play.

Taylor closed it out with a driving layin, yet another three, and one free throw to give the Knights a 76-69 victory.

MID-GAME RUN TURNS THE TIDE
- UCF went on a 19-4 from the end of the first half through the beginning of the second frame.
- The Knights were down nine at 33-24 with 7:29 to play in the first.
- Following the run, UCF led 43-37 just 1:22 into the second half.
- Taylor scored 12 points and had one assist and a steal during the stretch.

TAYLOR TERRIFIC AT THE POINT
* The freshman scored 25 points on 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
* He went for 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor in the second half alone.
* Taylor also dealt out a team high seven assists, grabbed six rebounds and picked up a game high three steals.
* It marked the second time he has led the Knights in scoring in the three games this year.

"He was in a flow and was scoring. I got him off the ball tonight so he could get on the wing and score a little bit more. It took the pressure off him having to think all the time. It gave him the ability to do what he can do."
- Donnie Jones

"I told him (Taylor) the other day that he was probably the best point guard I've ever played with. He can score 25 points, get six assists and eight rebounds. It's just crazy. He does it all."
- Kasey Wilson

RELIVE THE MOMENT (AUDIO)

BLAIR BLOCKS AWAY SEVEN SHOTS
The junior went for a career high seven blocks in the victory. His previous best was five, which he achieved twice. Blair's seven swats were the most for a Knight since Keith Clanton had seven against Southern Mississippi on Feb. 6, 2013. He also scored 11 points for the second time in three games and tied a career high with eight rebounds.

KNIGHTS HAND OUT 22 ASSISTS ON 29 FIELD GOALS
UCF used a season high 22 assists to pass around the Spartans. The unselfish play led to a number of opportunities for everyone in the lineup. The Knights had only seven baskets that went unassisted, and four players ended up in double figures.

The team ended up shooting 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the field and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from beyond the arc. A total of 40 points came in the paint for UCF.

"Our team does a great job moving the ball. We just try to find whoever has the hot hand and get them an open shot. We have a lot of guys on this team that can shoot, so we just try to move the ball and play for each other."
- B.J. Taylor

HOLDING SPARTANS DOWN ON THE BOARDS
- After giving up eight offensive rebounds and 10 second chance points in the first half, the Knights shut Upstate down in the second period.
- UCF allowed only five offensive boards and zero second chance points in the final 20 minutes of action.
- The Knights outrebounded the Spartans 41-32 for the game, the third straight game winning the rebound battle.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Head Coach Donnie Jones

B.J. Taylor, Kasey Wilson

NEXT UP FOR THE KNIGHTS
UCF will host Davidson Wednesday, Nov. 26 at CFE Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN3 and the UCF IMG Sports Network.

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