ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's basketball team opened up the Johnny Dawkins era in style, winning 80-56 over visiting Nicholls Monday night at CFE Arena. Fifth year senior Matt Williams led five Knights in double figures with 20 points on six three-pointers.
"Given everything that they threw at us, our guys did a great job of executing and making the plays they needed to do, to win," Dawkins said.
The Knights outscored the Colonels 47-26 in the second half, using a 10-2 run, to pull away late in the frame. A Williams three-pointer put UCF up 64-51 with 6:17 to play and they cruised from there.
"B.J. was able to get in the open floor a little bit, Tank hit a couple of big buckets to kind of open the game up for us as well," Dawkins said. "So they kind of loosened up play a little bit better and offensively they started following each other making more connecting plays."
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Matt Williams was on fire from long distance
The fifth year senior led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three-point range. He nearly tied his career high of seven threes in a game and added four rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes of action.
"Matt's one of the best shooters in the country. I've watched a lot of really good shooters but I haven't seen many with the range that he has." - Johnny Dawkins
Williams, who graduated last year and contemplated other options for his fifth and final season, ultimately made the decision to finish his career where it started. Home. The Orlando native was stellar in the first game of his last season with the Knights.
Wouldn't be the same without you, Matt.#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/5wAne8rUsm-- UCF Men's Hoops (@UCF_MBB) November 15, 2016
The Knights were dominant on the glass
UCF outrebounded Nicholls 59 to 36 for the game, taking advantage of the fact that the Knights forced the Colonels to shoot just 28.4 percent (21-74) from the floor for the game. The 59 rebounds were the most for UCF since they had 60 in 2001 and it was tied for the fourth most in a single game in program history.
"I thought the way we rebounded this game was a positive. We had 59 rebounds and held them to 36. That was phenomenal for us. Those things are very encouraging." - Johnny Dawkins
Seniors Tank Efianayi and Nick Banyard set career highs in big roles
Efianayi, who averaged just 3.8 points in 13.6 minutes per game in his first season with the Knights in 2015-16, has stepped into a much larger role for UCF as a senior. The Orlando native recorded career highs in points (16) and rebounds (9), while adding three assists, two steals and a block in 37 minutes.
"Tank is someone in practice we've been kind of pushing, saying we think we see more in you. You can give us more. And so I thought tonight was a good step forward for him, if nothing else just for confidence, because now he sees that he can do more." - Johnny Dawkins
Banyard, a graduate transfer from Illinois State, also grabbed a career high rebounds on Monday, picking up 12 on the night. In 36 minutes, he scored 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and added three assists in the eight start of his career.
Welcome to the BanYARD! #ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/uSCJzKhLa3-- UCF Men's Hoops (@UCF_MBB) November 15, 2016
Tacko Fall was extremely efficient on both ends of the court
The 7-foot-6 center was 8-of-11 (72.7%) from the floor, including six dunks, for a 16-point night. As a freshman in 2015-16, Fall set a UCF record with a 75.0 field goal percentage (96-128). On the defensive end he pulled down a career best 16 rebounds to give him the fourth double-double of his career. Fall also stayed out of foul trouble, only recording three on the night.
B.J. Taylor is back
The former American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team selection played in his first game since 2014-15 after missing all of last season due to injury. In his first game back Taylor scored 14 points, grabbed six boards and dealt out five assists in 27 minutes while battling first half foul trouble.
COMING UP NEXT
The Knights will next go on the road to take part in the Gildan Charleston Classic, starting with a Thursday evening matchup against Mississippi State. UCF will then play Friday and Sunday before returning to Orlando to host Seattle on Nov. 26.
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