No. 25 Men's Hoops Drops First Big 12 Road Contest, 87-76, to Oklahoma State

ORLANDO – Even with a balanced scoring effort that saw four Knights in double figures while defense forced 16 turnovers, No. 25 UCF men’s hoops was unable to overcome its offensive struggles on Tuesday night, ultimately falling to Oklahoma State, 87-76, at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Knights tallied 36 rebounds on the evening and 15 assists against the Cowboys' 39 and 13, respectively. However, Oklahoma State gained the upper hand from long range, hitting an efficient 10-of-19 from three-point range, while UCF struggled, connecting on just 7-of-33.

Despite winning the opening tip, the Knights stumbled out of the gate offensively. A sluggish start, paired with a quick 7-0 Cowboys run, left the Black and Gold trailing 11-9 just over five minutes into the first frame. What followed was a disjointed half of basketball, as both teams piled up 11 fouls before the break. Turnovers and rebounding were largely a wash, with the Knights committing six giveaways to the Cowboys’ seven while holding a slim 19-18 edge on the boards.

Ultimately, it was the Black and Gold’s struggles from beyond the arc that proved costly to their offensive efficiency, as they went just 1-for-14 from three in the opening half. Even during a seven-minute field-goal drought, Oklahoma State managed to maintain control behind efficient free-throw shooting, knocking back 12-of-16 from behind the charity stripe to carry a nine-point advantage, 41-32, into halftime.

Looking to recoup from the opening frame, the Knights opened the second half with a 7-0 run, locking in defensively and holding the Cowboys scoreless for more than two minutes. The surge pulled UCF within one, 51-50, with 14:26 remaining.

Riley Kugel led the way for the Knights for the second straight game with 15 points, while Themus Fulks (11), Jamichael Stillwell (13), and Devan Cambridge (11) made double-digit contributions of their own. 

Cambridge had a breakout night, recording his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds to match, and going a flawless 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, a career first for the Nashville native.

Despite the strong start, first-half inconsistencies returned. Four turnovers in a span of less than four minutes, combined with another three-minute scoring drought, left the Knights in a six-point hole once again, trailing 59-56 midway through the second half. Back-to-back three-pointers from George Beale Jr. and Kugel at the eight-minute mark trimmed the deficit to three, 67-64. But once again, a 2:57 offensive dry spell allowed the Cowboys to build their lead back to double-digits, 76-65, with 5:04 remaining. 

With 2:43 left on the game clock, the Cowboys used a 6-0 run to extend their lead, capitalizing on the Knights' eight consecutive missed shots. However, four Cowboys turnovers in a minute-long span opened the door for a brief Knights rally, as Kugel buried back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 80-71 with just over a minute to play. But amidst the chaos of the closing plays, the Cowboys were able to steady themselves and secure an 87-76 win over the No. 25 Knights.

The Cowboys’ win improves their record to 13-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while the Knights, whose 11-game winning streak has come to an end, fall to 12-1 overall and 1-1 in conference.

UP NEXT
The Knights will look to recoup at home, returning to Addition Financial Arena on Sunday, Jan. 11, for a 5 PM tip against longtime foe Cincinnati. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 or you can follow along on 96.9 The Game using the link here.

STUDENT TICKET CLAIMS
Be sure to claim your ticket for the Knights' next home game on Jan. 11 against Cincinnati. Don’t miss the action, be sure to claim your student ticket here.

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.