CINCINNATI – Freshman Tony Johnson Jr. and junior Brandon Mahan combined for 41 points off the bench and the UCF men's basketball team earned its first win at Cincinnati in program history, defeating the Bearcats 89-87 in double overtime Wednesday night in front of a raucous Fifth Third Arena.
"It was a great game. I think both teams played a game that was inspired," UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins said after the game. "I'm just happy that our guys had a little bit left in the tank at the very end to close it."
The Knights (14-11, 5-8), holding a one-point lead with six seconds to play in the second overtime, made one final stop, as Jarron Cumberland's floater rimmed out. Avery Diggs grabbed the rebound and drew a foul with less than two seconds to play.
After missing the first, Diggs made the second to give UCF the two-point advantage. Cincinnati's (17-9, 10-4) inbound went to Cumberland and his heave from halfcourt swished, but fortunately for the Knights, it left his hands after the buzzer had already sounded.
"We came together," Johnson said after the game. "I feel like a lot of people grew up tonight. Guys who had to step up, stepped up."
Johnson stepped the most of all. The freshman came in averaging 2.2 points in 7.8 minutes per game, but with additional playing time due to Dazon Ingram being out with an illness, he blew up for 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six steals, all career highs.
"Coach always tells me to stay ready," Johnson. "My mindset coming into this game didn't change. It's attack and be there for my team."
He was there and his team was there for him. Mahan, one of four other Knights in double figures, matched a career high himself with 20 points, his highest scoring output as a Knight, adding seven rebounds and three steals.
Collin Smith, who fouled out early in the first overtime, scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists, while Matt Milon and Darin Green Jr. added 12 points each in the victory.
"I'm really proud of our freshmen," Dawkins said. "Our freshmen played a lot of minutes in this game, in this type of environment, they did a lot of growing up. That's what you want to see happen."
UCF has now won three of its last four games and won in Cincinnati for the first time in program history, knocking the Bearcats out of first place in the American Athletic Conference standings.
The Knights will now get set to return home and host Tulane on Saturday. UCF and the Green Wave tip off at noon from Addition Financial Arena with coverage on ESPNU and FM 96.9 The Game.
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