NEW ORLEANS – The UCF men's basketball team enjoyed one of its best defensive performances in recent history, holding Tulane to 17 first-half point and rolling to a 74-55 road victory over the Green Wave Tuesday night at Fogelman Arena.
The 17 points marked the best defensive performance by UCF in a half of basketball since holding SMU to just 17 points back on Feb. 17, 2018.
"I was really proud of them," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said of his team. "From start-to-finish, they played well. They were focused, and for the most part, we didn't have any let-ups."
Senior Matt Milon hit a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game and never allowed Tulane to lead in the game. The Knights (10-7, 1-4) led by double digits, at 17-7, when Brandon Mahan hit his first of two free throws, and extended their lead to 15 points by the halfway point of the first half.
Tulane (10-7, 2-3) was never able to get anything going offensively, shooting 20.0 percent both from the field and from 3-point range in the first half.
UCF, on the other hand, was flowing all night on the offensive end, shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and hitting 12-of-26 (46.2%) from beyond the arc. Both the 12 threes made and the 46 percent marked season bests for the Knights.
They led by as many as 32 points before coasting to the 74-55 win.
"There was a focus. I thought they were ready," Dawkins said of his guys. "I was hoping they came out and played the way there were practicing, and they did."
UCF outrebounded Tulane 36-31 and had 17 assists to just seven for the Green Wave. The Knights also went 16-of-19 from the free throw line, another season best.
Four Knights scored in double figures, neither of which were the team's leading scorers Collin Smith and Ceasar DeJesus.
Dazon Ingram led the way with 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while matching a career-best with seven assists. Ingram went 11-of-13 from the free throw line and recorded his third double-double of the season.
"He came in focused. He showed why he's an upperclassman," Dawkins said of Ingram. "He bounced back. He knew it was time to step up and he did."
Milon and Darin Green Jr. both connected on four 3-pointers for 12 points, while Brandon Mahan added 11 points in the victory.
The Knights earned their first conference win of the season and picked up their 10th win overall on the year.
UCF returns to action on Saturday at home, hosting South Florida in the War On I-4. Tipoff from Addition Financial Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. with coverage on ESPNU and FM 96.9 The Game.
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