ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – A.J. Davis put forth one more career-defining performance amid a recent stretch that has included a number of impressive outings, scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the UCF men's basketball team to outlast no. 11 Wichita State Thursday night at CFE Arena.
The Shockers (24-5, 14-3) needed overtime to take out UCF (17-12, 8-9), but won their seventh straight game, as they continue to fight for The American regular season championship and a the top seed in next week's conference championship.
"I think this lets us know that we can play with anybody in this conference," B.J. Taylor said after the game. "We're not happy with the loss, but you have to take something out of it. What we took out of it is that we can compete with anybody in this conference."
Wichita State would have been the highest ranked team UCF had defeated at home, but the Knights lost their third game in a row. It wasn't without a serious fight, as Davis nearly willed his team to victory.
The senior forward scored a career high 31, besting his previous high of 26, scored against USF on Feb. 14. Davis pulled down 14 boards, one shy of his career high, marking his eighth double-double of the season.
"We talk about leaving our legacy all the time and A.J. understands that well, because he's in the midst of having to do that," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said. "I think if you look at A.J. over his last 10 games or so and how he's responded, and how he's taken his game up to even another level…he was good anyway, but he's taken it up to even another level. I think he sees that sense of urgency that he realizes this is it. He wants to make sure we do something special and that's the way he's playing. I'm really proud of him."
Davis also hit a career best six three-pointers. Yup, the hot streak continued for the Atlanta native, who is now shooting 61 percent from beyond the arc over the last six games.
And oh yeah, he also banked in the buzzer-beater that sent the Knights into overtime with the Shockers.
It was in overtime that Wichita State finally took over. The experienced Shockers scored six straight points in just over a minute to take a five-point lead with 20 seconds to play and put the game away.
"Losses are always tough, but I think you can get some things out of one," Dawkins said. "I think we learned a lot about ourselves in this game. We've been battling adversity a lot, as you guys know. We're battling it now, and I thought our guys responded."
Just to get to the extra frame, the Knights erased a nine-point deficit in the final 4:17 of regulation. It started with a three from B.J. Taylor, before two free throws from Ceasar DeJesus and back-to-back threes from Davis, including the aforementioned bank.
Davis's 31 points were the most by any UCF player this season and the most since Matt Williams had 38 against USF last season. Taylor added 23 points for the Knights, as the duo scored their most combined points ever.
Taylor also added a team high five assists, while DeJesus chipped in with 10 points and three assists in the defeat.
Shaquille Morris led three Shockers in double figures with 19 points and nine rebounds. Conner Frankamp had 16 points and Landry Shamet chipped in with 14 points and six assists.
"We know we are capable of competing with anyone in our conference and so now we have to go out and do it," Dawkins concluded. "But before we even go that far, we have to concentrate on Tulane, another very good basketball team."
UP NEXT
UCF will close out the regular season Sunday at 4:30 p.m. against Tulane. The Knights will honor Davis, Djordjije Mumin and Nathan Laing prior to the contest.
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