Top 10 Moments - The first two years under head coach Johnny Dawkins have included a number of great moments for UCF Men's Basketball. With a highly anticipated third season coming up in 2018-19, we're counting down the Top 10 Moments in the Johnny Dawkins era so far.
#10 - A.J. DAVIS' SHOCKER VS. WICHITA STATE
The first ever home game for the Knights on ESPN, UCF fans came out in full force to support the Black and Gold against No. 11 Wichita State on March 1, 2018.
With no Tacko Fall, no Aubrey Dawkins, and B.J. Taylor still fighting through a season-long foot injury, it was on the senior to step up. A.J. Davis, who enjoyed a brilliant end to the 2018-19 campaign, had the best game of his career against one of the toughest opponents in the nation.
Davis finished the night with a career high 31 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. He went 9-for-16 from the floor, 7-for-11 from the free throw line, and an unprecedented 6-for-9 from three-point range.
After trailing 36-29 at halftime, Davis put the team on his back in the second 20 minutes, scoring 19 points on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Shockers led 64-55 with just 4:17 to go in the game, before Davis led the Knights on a thrilling comeback to force overtime. His fifth three of the game cut the deficit to just one point, at 64-63 with 1:21 to play.
WOW!!!!@ajdavis3 is our hero.
-- UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) March 2, 2018
His 5th three makes it 64-63 with 1:09 to play.
Let's gooooo!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SVw0hyOtnx
A Wichita State bucket, a missed UCF three-pointer, and a missed front end of a one-and-one by the Shockers set up the final possession of regulation.
Seventeen seconds on the clock, the Knights brought the ball down the court, setting up a three-point attempt by Taylor. It rimmed out, and as the ball bounced through multiple hands attempting to grab the rebound, it seemingly fell into the hands of Davis outside the arc.
From the right wing, he took one dribble, a quick head fake, and then let it fly. Off the glass and in. His sixth three of the night brought the Knights back and forced overtime against the No. 11 team in the nation.
A.J. DAVISSSSS!!!!! His banked three ties this thing with less than a second left!!!!
-- UCF Men's Basketball (@UCF_MBB) March 2, 2018
We all know how the game ended, as the Shockers were able to outlast the Knights during the extra time. But in those 40 minutes of regulation, in one of his final games of college basketball, A.J. Davis gave UCF fans everything he had. And it was incredible.
TICKETS FOR 2018-19
Fans excited for the upcoming 2018-19 UCF men's basketball season can purchase tickets today by calling (407) 823-1000 or online here: https://ucfknights.co/mbb1819tix.