- This year’s Legends Classic will be the first time it has hosted UCF, while Pitt is set to play in its fourth game at the Legends Classic.
- The Legends Classic is hosted in Daytona Beach at the Ocean Center Arena for the first time in the Classic’s history.
- While this will be the Knights first time in the tournament it will be their fifth game at the Ocean Center, which is just 58 miles from UCF’s campus.
- Nov. 25, 1997: UCF 75, Bethune-Cookman, 57
- Nov. 20, 2009: UCF, 84, Auburn, 74
- Nov. 21, 2009: Niagara, 63, UCF, 46
- Nov. 22, 2009: UCF, 59, Drake, 50
On Point from Long Range
- The Knights are currently ranked third in the nation with a stellar 47.7 three-point percentage.
- Riley Kugel leads the teams with 16 three pointers made this season, which ranks him third in the Big 12 conference.
- Kugel is ranked 31st in the NCAA with an impressive 57.1% from beyond the arc.
- Carmelo Pacheco is just behind Kugel in the rankings with 13 three pointers (4th in Big 12) and a 52.0 three-point percentage, good enough for 55th in the nation.
- UCF is continuing the trend as it was ranked 56th nationally in three-point attempts per game, placing them 65th in three-pointers made per game last season.
- The Black and Gold were 14-4 last season when the team shot above 35% from three-point range.
- Transfers George Beale Jr. and Carmelo Pacheco shot the three-ball above 40% last season.
- Both Beale Jr. Pacheco averaged 6.3 three-point attempts per game on their two previous teams, respectively.
- UCF earned 10 or more three-pointers for the 14th time last season against Oregon State, hitting 10 or more threes in four of its last five games after not doing so for the entire month of February. The streak included tying a season-high 14 made threes vs. Kansas in the second round of the Big 12 Championship. To put in perspective the shooting capability of this year’s team, the Knights hit 10 or more three pointers just twice last season. Additionally, UCF has five games where they’ve shot 50% or better from the floor after doing that four times in the previous campaign.
- The Black and Gold have knocked down a program record 328 three pointers last season, reaching the milestone during the College Basketball Crown first round. The mark tops the 295 made triples during the 2022-23 season.
- The Knights averaged 8.9 made three pointers per game, beating the previous record during Dawkins’ tenure at 8.8 during the 2021-22 campaign. The high clip has helped UCF to its highest scoring offense under Dawkins as well.
Complete Sweep Against Texas A&M
- UCF took down Texas A&M, 86-74, on Nov. 14 at Reed Arena in College and last season opened up the season against then No. 13/15 earning a 64-61 win inside Addition Financial Arena on Nov. 4, 2024.
- The Knights dug their way out of a 14-point hole in the second quarter, mounting a 15-7 run powered by back-to-back threes from Jordan Burks to pull within striking distance at 61-59 with 7:42 remaining. Burks finished the night with a career-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, also a career-best for made three-point shots in a single game.
- UCF erased an 11-point deficit with seven minutes to go to come from behind to beat No. 13/15 Texas A&M 64-61 last season in the home opener on Nov. 4, 2024.
- Texas A&M was the third ranked opponent UCF has played on opening night in the program’s D-I history, joining tilts against No. 16 Florida State (11/25/88) and No. 25 Miami (11/19/99). Neither of those resulted in a win.
- Last year’s ranked victory was the 11th in program history and the ninth under head coach Johnny Dawkins’.
1K Point Club
- Riley Kugel recorded his 1,000th career point against Oakland on Nov. 17.
- Kugel tallied 18 points in the game, marking his fifth consecutive game with double digits in points.
- The Orlando native joins fellow teammates: Themus Fulks and Devan Cambridge, as they have both scored over 1,000 points in their career.
Dominant Team Victory vs. Florida A&M
- The Knights shined in the first half, as 12 different players scored a bucket. This marks the most players to record a bucket in a game since playing Kansas State Jan. 6, 2024.
- UCF’s 24 team assists is the most in a game since recording 23 assists vs. Bethune-Cookman Dec. 29, 2023.
- The Black and Gold were lighting it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 13 three-pointers and shooting 65% from downtown. This marks UCF’s best shooting percentage from three with 20-plus attempts in a game since shooting 60% vs. Michigan Dec. 30, 2021.
- The fronds were in full effect in the in-state battle, as Florida A&M shot 12-22 from the charity stripe. Florida A&M’s 55% from the free throw line is the lowest by a team in Addition Financial Arena since Houston’s 50% Mar. 6, 2024.
Opening Knight Win Over Hofstra
- UCF opened the 2025-26 campaign with an 82-78 win over Hofstra on November 3rd.
- The win gives head coach Johnny Dawkins a 9-1 record in home openers with the Knights.
- Themus Fulks orchestrated the offense throughout the night, dishing out a team-high eight assists and adding 16 points of his own. He also proved to be a rock at the free-throw line, knocking down 10 of his 12 attempts.
- Jordan Burks recorded a career-high performance with 17 points and came up with a crucial block and an offensive rebound in the closing second to help lead the team.
- Riley Kugel finished with 19 points and three assists, his offensive fire helped to set the tone for the night earning a career-high five three’s made.
Setting the Stage
- In the Knights’ season opener against Hofstra, 10 new Knights stepped on the hardwood in Addition Financial Arena for the first time donning the Black and Gold
- Three Knights delivered career-best performances in the win. Orlando native Riley Kugel sparked the offense early, knocking down a career-high five three-pointers in the first half. Jordan Burks added a career-best 17 points and led the team with seven rebounds, while John Bol chipped in a personal-best seven points to round out the strong individual efforts.