ORLANDO – The UCF men's basketball team, having won back-to-back conference games, will head back on the road to attempt to win its third consecutive game this Saturday in Wichita, Kansas. The Knights and the Shockers are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPNU and FM 96.9 The Game.
The Knights (11-7, 2-4) are coming off a home win over rival South Florida last Saturday, scoring the final six points of the game to earn the 55-54 victory. Ceasar DeJesus and Dazon Ingram led the way with 11 points each, while Brandon Mahan matched a career high with 10 boards.
Ingram earned weekly Honor Roll accolades from The American following UCF's two wins. He averaged 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 83.3 percent from the field in the wins over Tulane and South Florida.
Wichita State (16-3, 4-2) welcomes UCF to town after defeating South Florida on the road, 56-43 on Tuesday. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Shockers, who fell on the road at Temple and then at home to Houston.
The Knights and the Shockers have met just three times in the all-time series, with Wichita State winning all three meetings. Last season, UCF fell 75-67 in Wichita in the only match-up of the year.
GAME INFO
Date: Saturday, Jan. 25
Time: 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Radio: FM 96.9 The Game
SETTING THE SCENE
- After dropping its first four games of American Athletic Conference play, the UCF men's basketball team has bounced back with back-to-back wins at Tulane and vs. South Florida.
- The Knights now get set for a pair of games against teams ahead of them in the standings, taking on Wichita State Saturday, before returning home to host Memphis on Wednesday.
- UCF looks for its first win against the Shockers, who have won the first three meetings between the two teams.
THE SHORT SERIES AGAINST THE SHOCKERS
- UCF and Wichita State have met just three times in the all-time series, beginning with the Shockers' first season in The American in 2017-18.
- That first season, the teams met twice, with Wichita State winning 81-62 in Kansas and then sneaking out of Orlando with a 75-71 overtime victory late in the season.
- Last year, the two teams mete just once, as the Shockers came out on top 75-67 in Wichita on Jan. 16.
- In the lone game last season, Aubrey Dawkins (22), B.J. Taylor (15) and Dayon Griffin (10) all scored in double figures.
- For Wichita, Markis McDuffie (23) and Samajae Haynes-Jones (14) were the top two scorers. The top returning scorer from the game is Jamarius Burton, who had 12 points in the win.
DEFENSE LEADING THE WAY IN BACK-TO-BACK WINS
- In the last two games, UCF had held Tulane and South Florida to just 54.5 points per game, outscoring the two by an average of 10.0 points.
- The Knights' opponents during the two wins are shooting just 36.0 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from 3-point range.
- Ingram has led the Knights in the last two, averaging 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, while shooting 83.3 percent from the field to earn an AAC Weekly Honor Roll nod.
ALL GOOD WHEN HITTING 71
- UCF's defense has been reliable for the most part this season, so when the offense is clicking it means good things for the Knights.
- When UCF has scored 71 points or more this season, the team holds a record of 8-1.
- Converseley, when the Knights fail to hit the 71-point mark, they are just 3-6 on the year.
- Additionally, UCF is a perfect 5-0 when scoring 75 points or more this season.
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