Lion Tamers

Dec. 22, 2014

UCF Athletics Social Media Directory

By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com

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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's basketball team finished non-conference play with a 70-65 victory over visiting Southeastern Louisiana Monday night. Freshman B.J. Taylor led four Knights in double figures with 15 points.

"I am happy with the win," head coach Donnie Jones said after the game. "I was proud to have our guys finish the game strong. As a young basketball team, I think we have seen a lot here in the last 11 games that we have played."

The Knights (7-4) used a 13-0 run to gain the first advantage of the game. A three-pointer on a baseline out of bounds by freshman Adonys Henriquez and an alley oop from sophomore Brandon Goodwin to junior Staphon Blair triggered the spurt that took UCF from down 14-11 to leading 24-14 with 8:05 to play in the first.

Southeastern Louisiana (3-9) countered with a 10-0 run of its own to tie the game up at 24-24 on a triple by Cedric Jenkins. Taylor quickly fired back with one from long distance to put the Knights back in front. UCF held a 33-29 advantage at the break.

The Knights led 51-46 midway through the second half when a 10-2 stretch put them up 61-48 with just 6:51 to play. Threes by senior Kasey Wilson and Taylor, along with fast break buckets by Henriquez and junior Daiquan Walker put UCF up by double digit late in the game.

Unable to put the Lions away, the Knights allowed eight straight points to allow SLU back into the game at 61-56 with 4:49 remaining. It was again Taylor who stopped the run, knocking down a pull-up jumper in the lane.

Leading by just three points with less than three minutes to play, Henriquez did what he did twice last week against Detroit. The freshman knocked down a deep three as the shot clock expired to extend the lead to 66-60 and the Knights coasted to the 70-65 win.

KNIGHTS CLOSE OUT NON-CONFERENCE WITH VICTORY
UCF's win over Southeastern Louisiana marked the end of the Knights' non-conference slate. The team will head home for the holidays to see family and friends for a couple of days before returning to practice on Dec. 26. UCF opens up American Athletic Conference play on Dec. 31 at home against Tulsa.

"As a Coach, I am always very concerned with the game before Christmas. Our guys get a chance to go home and see their families, but we are always hoping that their minds are here and focused on the game and not somewhere else. I was really proud that our guys stayed focused and in the moment."
- Donnie Jones

TAYLOR LEADS THE WAY FOR FIFTH TIME
- The Knights' leading scorer, Taylor led the Knights for the fifth time this season with 15 points.
- The freshman went 6-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
- It was his seventh time scoring in double figures this season.
- Taylor added two assists and two steals in the victory.

KNIGHTS COMPOSED ON OFFENSE WITH 17 ASSISTS AND NINE TURNOVERS
The Knights recorded 17 assists on 27 field goals to help secure the win. It was the sixth time this season that UCF tallied 15 or more assists in a game. Maybe more importantly, UCF only turned the ball over nine times, tying a season-best. The 17-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio marked the best for the Knights all season.

WALKER SCORES 11 OFF THE BENCH
- Walker came off the bench to score 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor.
- He added a career high seven assists and tied a season-best six rebounds.
- It was the third time this season that he scored in double figures off the bench.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Head Coach Donnie Jones

Brandon Goodwin, Daiquan Walker

NEXT UP FOR THE KNIGHTS
UCF will open up conference play on Dec. 31 against Tulsa. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m. and will air on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app, and the UCF IMG Sports Network.

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