Men’s Hoops Charges Past Kansas State, 82-73, for First Big 12 Road Win

ORLANDO – ‘A facilitator.’

When asked to describe starting point guard Themus Fulks after Wednesday evening’s 82-73 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum, head coach Johnny Dawkins had no trouble finding the right words. But Fulks was more than a facilitator in the Little Apple; he was a history maker.

Although the teams traded baskets early, the Knights quickly settled into an offensive groove, fueled by Riley Kugel, who scored 10 of the squad’s first 14 points behind a perfect four-for-four start from the field, lending UCF a slim 14-10 lead with just over 14-minutes to play in the opening frame.

Kugel led UCF’s scoring for the fourth consecutive game, finishing with 19 points, including 10 in his first-half tear. Devan Cambridge and Jamichael Stillwell also reached double figures, contributing 11 and 18 points, respectively. Kugel and Stillwell controlled the boards for the Black and Gold, each grabbing seven rebounds apiece.

The game tilted when Knights' defensive pressure began to suffocate the Wildcats, holding them scoreless for four minutes, while forcing seven turnovers in a 4:55-long stretch. Meanwhile, the Knights burst out on an 11-point run of their own, lending them a 10-point edge, 20-10, by the 12-minute media timeout. 

The Knights’ first-half edge wasn’t fueled by defense alone, although it was the fewest points the Wildcats have managed during Big 12 play this season. It was also UCF’s offense, kept in rhythm by Fulks, who dished out seven assists in the opening 20 minutes, that helped the Black and Gold build a 42-28 lead at the break.

Fulks, who has emerged as the heartbeat of the Knights’ offense, finished with 11 points and 12 assists, ranking him seventh nationally in assists per game (7.3 apg). But his impact Wednesday night went far beyond the stat line. Fulks etched his name into the UCF record books, becoming the first Knight ever with five double-digit assist games in a single season, the first in a Black and Gold uniform this century to post three point-assist double-doubles in a season, and the first in program history to record back-to-back games with at least 10 assists.

After picking up four quick fouls at the start of the second half, UCF opened the door for a brief Wildcat rally, which closed the scoring gap down to eight, 47-39, by the 16-minute mark. Fueled by 10 early second-half points from Big 12 leading scorer PJ Hargerty, Kansas State continued to push its way back into the game, using an 11-6 run to pull itself within one, 57-56, with 11:18 remaining.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Fulks and Jordan Burks restored the Knights’ cushion to seven, but the Wildcats refused to fade, battling back to within three, 68-65, with just over seven minutes left. But each time Kansas State threatened to take the lead, UCF answered. Finding one of their most decisive responses in Chris Johnson.

Johnson gave the Knights their game-closing spark with a tip-in layup at the 5:57 mark, followed shortly by a fast-break layup from Kugel to make it 72-65. After another brief Wildcat push, Johnson buried a three with 4:13 left to restore a seven-point edge, effectively halting Kansas State’s momentum for good.

That's winning basketball. pic.twitter.com/8rSlRJ8NNw

— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) January 15, 2026

UCF sealed the outcome at the free throw line in the final minute, converting six free throws over the final 38 seconds to turn a two-possession game into a comfortable, 82-73, finish.

UP NEXT
The Knights return home, welcoming No. 1 Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 17, taking on the undefeated Wildcats for a 4 PM tip inside Addition Financial Arena. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, or you can follow along here on 96.9 The Game.

SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF basketball single-game and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action at Addition Financial Arena as Big 12 play heats up in Orlando. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000 or online here. 

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.