ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) –The UCF men’s basketball team has an opportunity to make a statement Thursday night in Cincinnati. The Knights (19-5, 9-3), currently third in the American Athletic Conference standings, take on the second place No. 25 Bearcats (21-4, 10-2) at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
GAME INFO
Date: Thursday, Feb. 21
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 96.9 FM/740 AM The Game
Live Stats: https://ucfknights.co/2BG7Qsg
Thursday marks the first of two games in two weeks for UCF against Cincinnati. The Bearcats will make a return trip to Orlando on March 7 for Senior Day at CFE Arena. This first matchup will be the Knights’ first trip to the newly renovated Fifth Third Arena after Cincinnati played on the campus of Northern Kentucky last season.
The Bearcats have dominated the series against the Knights since both teams joined The American for the 2013-14 season, holding a 10-1 lead all-time. UCF’s lone victory over Cincinnati came in its NIT Final Four season, defeating the then No. 15 ranked Bearcats
After falling to league-leading Houston, the Knights have now won three in a row, defeating SMU on the road before taking care of South Florida and Memphis at home. UCF has had a different leading scorer in each of the three wins, as Aubrey Dawkins, Tacko Fall and BJ Taylor have each taken a turn leading the way.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, is led by The American’s leading scorer in Jarron Cumberland. The shooting guard is averaging 19.3 points per game, as the Bearcats have won nine of their last 10 games. Cincinnati’s lone loss during the stretch was on the road at Houston.
NOTES TO KNOW
- Cincinnati is 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll and receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.
- The Bearcats won non-conference games against Ole Miss and UCLA.
- UCF is a perfect 19-0 when leading with two minutes to go in the game.
- Tacko Fall has successfully won all 24 tipoffs this season and each of the last 28 dating back to last year.
- BJ Taylor led UCF with 25 points in the win over Memphis and is just three points shy of 1,500 for his career.
- The Knights lead The American with at 46.8 team field goal percentage.
- A win would make UCF 20-5, the program’s best 25-game start since the 2003-04 season.
- It would be the second time in three seasons that the Knights won 20 games in the regular season.
- At 9-3 in league play, this is the best start to conference action since joining The American.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE GAME NOTES – UCF VS CINCINNATI
TICKETS FOR 2018-19
Fans excited for the 2018-19 UCF men's basketball season can purchase tickets today by calling (407) 823-1000 or online here: https://ucfknights.co/mbb1819tix.