CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The UCF men's basketball team took care of business on the road Saturday afternoon in Miami as the Knights (2-0) bested the Hurricanes (1-1), 95-89, at Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
The Knights' 95 points marked the most they have scored since Feb. 24, 2019, when UCF defeated SMU 95-48 in Orlando. UCF's Dec. 22, 2015 win over Bethune-Cookman was the last time the Knights have scored more than 95 points in a game (101).
"We're still trying to find ourselves. It's so early in the season, but one thing I do like about this team is our completive spirit, and I know our guys want to win," said head coach Johnny Dawkins. "I was really proud of how these guys did tonight, beating this team in their home arena."
The Knights' win at Miami marked UCF's first over the Hurricanes since Nov. 21, 2013, when UCF won 63-58.
Darin Green Jr. and Darius Perry knocked down a pair of early threes to give UCF the quick 10-4 lead Saturday afternoon and the Knights didn't look back from there.
UCF didn't surrender the lead for the remaining of the game and was up as high as 17 points after going on a 9-0 run to open the half.
Miami was somehow able to make a game of it late as they dragged the final 90 seconds of the game into a nearly 15-minute stretch, sending the Knights to the line a total of 27 times over the course of the contest, but UCF was able to capitalize with 24 made free throws to fend off the Hurricanes. The Knights also had their fair share of fouls as well, as both Perry and Darius Johnson, who made his first career start in the contest, fouled out of the game late, combining for 10 of the Knights' 24 total fouls.
Darin Green Jr. finished three points shy of his career high as the junior led the team with 23 points after hitting 5-of-9 from three-point range, and C.J. Walker posted the first double-double of the year for UCF, scoring 14 and grabbing 11 rebounds. Two other Knights contributed with double-digit points in Brandon Mahan (15) and Isaiah Adams (12).
UCF posted 16 offensive rebounds (27 total) in the win, the most offensive boards the Knights have tallied in a game since Nov. 28, 2019 against Penn.
It was a bittersweet victory for Knights' assistant coach Kevin Norris, who made his return to his Alma Mater as he was a four-year standout at Miami from 1994-98. Norris played point guard for the Hurricanes and is one of the more accomplished players in program history as he still holds the record for steals (208) and consecutive starts (108) to this day. Norris ranks second all-time at Miami in assists (493) and fourth in total starts (108).
The Knights will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 16 as UCF will welcome Jacksonville to town for a 7 p.m. showdown at Addition Financial Arena.
