ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's basketball team held No. 11 Cincinnati to just 49 points, but was unable to get going offensively in a 49-38 loss to the league-leading Bearcats Tuesday night at CFE Arena.
"It was a hard and physical game tonight between two teams that hang their hats on defense," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said. "I think they just made a few more plays than we did in both halves. For our guys, it was a heck of a learning experience."
The first half was astoundingly defensive as the Knights (12-6, 3-3) led 19-15 at the break. UCF outrebounded Cincinnati 26-19 in the first 20 minutes, while neither team was able to shoot better than 25 percent from the floor.
"I didn't expect quite that, but both teams do hang their hat on the defensive end of the floor," Dawkins said of the first half. "They've built a program off of that under Mick Cronin and we're looking to build our program off of something similar to that here.
"I was proud of our guys effort in the first half especially," Dawkins continued. "To hold a team to 15 points you have to be doing something right and for them holding us to 19 you have to be doing something right, so I thought it was good half for both teams."
In the second half, the Bearcats (16-2, 5-0) were able to pull away. The second best scoring defense in the nation proved it, holding the Knights to just 19 points in the final 20 minutes.
Cincinnati used an 8-0 run midway through the second half to take a 38-30 lead that proved to be enough to come away with the win. The Knights cut it to just three points on three straight buckets by Tacko Fall, but that was as close as they'd come.
The Bearcats spoiled the return of all-conference point guard B.J. Taylor, who made his first appearance since breaking his foot in the season opener on Nov. 10. The Orlando native scored six points in 21 minutes off the bench in his first game back.
"It was good seeing B.J. out there on the floor," Dawkins said. "I know he was excited and we were as well. Where he is now isn't going to be where he is in two weeks. For him it's all about just gaining experience back on the floor, getting his wind back, and getting his timing right, but it was good to have him out there."
Taylor was one of five Knights to score six or seven points Tuesday night. Fall, Terrell Allen and Dayon Griffin each had seven, while Djordjije Mumin joined Taylor with six. Fall led UCF with nine rebounds and one blocked shot.
Gary Clark led Cincinnati with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Jacob Evans chipped in with 10 points and three blocks.
UCF will now hit the road to take on USF in the War On I-4 Rivalry Series. The Knights and the Bulls square off in Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
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