Knights Knocked Down by Noles

Dec. 6, 2014

UCF Athletics Social Media Directory

By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Florida State shot 62.1 percent from the floor and scored 64 points in the paint to defeat UCF 96-73 in the Knights' first road game of the season. Sophomore Brandon Goodwin led the Knights with 16 points in the defeat.

The Knights opened up the scoring with a three by freshman Adonys Henriquez and the two teams traded baskets until the Seminoles used a 7-0 run to take a 26-18 lead 11 minutes into the game.

UCF (5-2) fought right back as a tough take to the rim by Goodwin following a timeout ended the FSU run. After a defensive stop, Goodwin threw up a lob for junior Staphon Blair on the break to cut into the lead again. A driving layin by freshman B.J. Taylor and a layup by junior Daiquan Walker capped an 8-2 run that brought it back to 28-26 with under seven minutes to play in the first.

Unfortunately for the Knights, Florida State (4-4) used a 9-0 run to extend its lead to double figures and went on to take a 47-37 lead at the break. The Noles shot 75.0 percent from the floor and took only one three-pointer in the first 20 minutes.

UCF got the deficit to single digits twice early in the second half before the Seminoles methodically increased their lead. FSU led by as many as 25 before cruising to the 96-73 victory.

KNIGHTS UNABLE TO STOP NOLES
Florida State shot an incredible .750 from the floor in the first half, making 21-of-28 field goal attempts. They went on to shoot .526 in the second 20 minutes, finishing the game with a .621 field goal percentage.

FSU GOT IT DONE IN THE PAINT
- Florida State scored 64 of their 96 points in the paint.
- In the first half the Noles collected 36 out of the 47 total points in the paint.
- FSU only took one three-pointer in the first half and finished 3-of-12 for the game.

UCF GUARDS CARRIED THE WAY ON OFFENSE
- Goodwin led the Knights with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor.
- Taylor and Henriquez added 14 points each.
- Walker chipped in with 12 points off the bench, giving the Knights four guards in double figures.

KNIGHTS OUTREBOUNDED BY BIG SEMINOLES
Florida State plays with three seven-foot centers, rotating them in and out. That in combination with their size advantage at the guard position led to a 42-25 rebound margin in favor of FSU. The Noles had 12 offensive boards, which led to 16 second chance points. The Knights, meanwhile, only mustered four second chance points in the game.

SHARING THE BASKETBALL
* The Knights came in averaging 15.3 assists per game, which was second in the American.
* On Saturday UCF only managed seven assists as Florida State's defense forced the Knights into one-on-one situations.
* Taylor led the Knights with three assists.

POSTGAME AUDIO
Head Coach Donnie Jones

NEXT UP FOR THE KNIGHTS
After a six-game homestand to start the year UCF will play its second straight road contest on Thursday. The Knights take on Illinois-Chicago at 8 p.m. on ESPN3.