ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF men's basketball team outscored visiting SMU 34-30 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit, as the Mustangs defeated the Knights 65-60 at CFE Arena Wednesday night.
"It was a hard fought game against a very good team," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said. "They showed a lot of poise playing with the lead, especially in the second half. Whenever we were able to cut into the lead, they were able to make a big play."
Sophomore B.J. Taylor was a main contributor in cutting into the SMU (18-4, 8-1 AAC) lead in the second half, scoring 20 of his game high 22 points in the second stanza. Taylor scored six straight points on a three-pointer and a conventional three-point play to cut the SMU lead to just six points, at 42-36, early in the second.
"I thought B.J. was more assertive in the second half," Dawkins said. "At around the seven-minute mark he hadn't taken any shots. I said 'what are you doing? You're one of our best offensive players. We need you to assert yourself right now.'"
The Knights (14-6, 5-3 AAC) were able to get within four points five different times in the second half, including three times in the final minute of play. Each time, SMU countered to keep UCF at bay.
The Mustangs, who came in with a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season, were even better on Wednesday. SMU recorded 21 assists on 25 field goals and turned the ball over just seven times.
Conversely, UCF has struggled to take care of the ball this season, and it hurt the Knights once again. They were right on their season average with 15 giveaways, and SMU took advantage converting them into 13 points.
"As a competitor it's very frustrating, because I know we're capable of cutting down on these turnovers," Dawkins said. "We have to keep working on our execution, but I believe in our guys. They want to do well and they want to make the right plays, so we just have to keep working."
The Knights shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half, but were just 2-of-10 from three-point range. Matt Williams, who had 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half, was unable to shake the Mustang defense in the second, going 0-of-5 from the floor.
Sophomore Tacko Fall recorded his second straight double-double in the defeat, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Knights. He now has nine on the season. Fall added a season high five blocks in the loss.
The Knights, having lost three of their last five, will hit the road for a pair of league games starting Saturday. UCF plays at Tulsa on Jan. 28 before taking on Houston on Feb. 1. The Knights return to CFE Arena, Feb. 4 against Memphis.
"I'm a little disappointed," Dawkins said. "We've just lost two games in a row and I don't take those things well. It's not my nature. We have to figure out what we need to do to right the ship. We have to get better from these two games and that's what we'll talk about."
NOTES
- Matt Williams moved into sole possession of second place in the UCF record books with his first three-pointer of the game. He now has 224 and needs 28 more to pass Jermaine Taylor's all-time record.
- Tacko Fall now has 50 blocks on the season, which is tied for the 10th most in a single season at UCF. He needs 21 more to beat his total from last season and 25 more to break John Friday's UCF record.
- B.J. Taylor's 22 points were a season high, besting his mark of 21 against Charleston on Nov. 18. His eight rebounds were also a season best.
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