ORLANDO – The UCF men's basketball team returns to action with the first of two road games this Wednesday when the Knights take on UConn at the XL Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with coverage on ESPNU and FM 96.9 The Game.
After winning on the road in double overtime at Cincinnati, UCF dropped a home game to Tulane in its most recent contest. The Knights fell to 14-12 overall and 5-9 in American Athletic Conference action.
They're just one game behind UConn, which is 15-12 on the season and 6-8 in league play. The Huskies are coming off a home win over South Florida this weekend and recently defeated Memphis back on Feb. 16.
While UCF has only won four games against UConn in the all-time series between the two teams, the Knights have had success lately, winning each of the last three meetings. Last season, UCF swept the season series for the first time.
GAME INFO
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Radio: FM 96.9 The Game
SETTING THE SCENE
- After starting the season 9-2, the UCF men's basketball team lost eight out of 10 games, to fall to 11-10 on the season. Since then the Knights have won three of five and are trending in the right direction down the stretch.
- The Knights currently stand in ninth place but are just a game behind UConn for seventh place and have defeated the second and third place teams in The American (Cincinnati, Tulsa).
- UCF aims to continue its upward trajectory by topping the Huskies in the only game this season.
TROUBLE WITH TULANE
- After an impressive road win at Cincinnati, the Knights couldn't keep their momentum going in a 75-74 home loss to last place Tulane on Feb. 22.
- UCF led by 10 points as late as the 4:20 mark in the second half and held a seven-point advantage with 1:33 to go but couldn't hold on as the Green Wave scored the final five points to earn the road victory.
- It marked the first time the Knights have given up a lead with two minutes to play this season and just the second time UCF has lost a game when leading with 10 minutes to play.
RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST UCONN
- Although UConn holds an 11-4 advantage over UCF in the all-time series, the Knights have won the last three meetings between the two teams.
- UCF won at home on Jan. 31, 2018, then at UConn on Jan. 5, 2019 and most recently in Orlando on Jan. 31, 2019.
- The Knights' only other victory over UConn was at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament the year after the Huskies won the 2011 National Championship.
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE HUSKIES
- The Knights swept the season series from the Huskies in Dan Hurley's first season as head coach in Connecticut.
- In the win in Hartford on Jan. 5, Aubrey Dawkins went for 23 points and B.J. Taylor had 12 for the Knights, while Alterique Gilbert had 18 and Christian Vital added 15 for the Huskies.
- In Orlando on Jan. 31, it was Taylor going for 21 to lead the way, while Collin Smith and Ceasar DeJesus added 11 points each in the win.
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