Nov. 28, 2015
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OXFORD, Ohio - UCF men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon as Miami (Ohio) handed the Knights a 64-63 road loss.
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The Knights' bench play was big in the first half as they accounted for 17 of UCF's 36 points. Both Matt Williams and Chance McSpadden came off the pine firing, scoring six points during the first 20 minutes. Staphon Blair chipped in five in his six minutes of action in the first half.
UCF started the second half on a mission as they quickly extended their eight-point halftime lead to 13 points just three minutes into the second half. Freshman Tacko Fall led the charge as he had a pair of statement dunks before A.J. Davis and Shaheed Davis scored on two layups.
But the RedHawks rallied following a timeout and put a full-court press on the Knights the remainder of the game. The pressure rattled UCF, forcing them to commit 22 turnovers and allow Miami (Ohio) to sneak back into the game.
By 7:29, Miami (Ohio) had chipped the Knights' lead to just two points, but it wasn't until the three-minute mark that they garnered their first lead of the game on a Abdoulaye Harouna three pointer from the corner.
With 38 seconds remaining and UCF down by two, the Knights dialed up Fall's number on a pick and roll. The 7-foot-6 freshman laid the ball in to even the score and garnered a foul. He would make the ensuing free throw to give UCF a 63-62 lead.
The RedHawks came down immediately and got a bucket on a step-back jumper from Eric Washington to grab a one-point lead with 23 seconds left in regulation.
With five seconds remaining, Walker crossed over his man to get inside the lane and kicked to McSpadden for a three. The freshman took a shot fake before dishing to Adonys Henriquez in the corner for a last-second three, which bounced off the front of the rim.
BENCH COMING IN HOT
- Seventeen of the Knights' 36 first-half points came from bench players.
- Chance McSpadden led all bench player with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting and 1-for-3 from behind the arc.
TURNOVERS THE DIFFERENCE
- The Knights had a season-high 22 turnovers in Saturday's loss.
- Miami (Ohio) only had 11 turnovers, and they converted 24 points off UCF's miscues.
NEXT TIME OUT
- UCF returns to Florida Wednesday, Dec. 2 but remains on the road as they travel to DeLand, Florida, for a matchup against Stetson.
Story by Cory Hall