Men’s Hoops Escapes Utah With 73-71 Victory

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With the game hanging in the balance Saturday evening inside the Jon M. Huntsman Center, Themus Fulks stepped to the free-throw line with the score tied at 71.

In a contest that featured 16 lead changes and no team ever holding a double-digit advantage, it all came down to Fulks. Calm and composed, he sank back-to-back free throws, sealing a 73‑71 victory for UCF men’s hoops (19-7, 8-6 Big 12) over the Utah Utes (10-17, 2-12). 

Even though the Knights scored on their first two possessions to take an early 4-0 lead, by the 14:38 mark, the Utes had pulled ahead for a narrow 11-8 edge. The teams continued to trade buckets back and forth, neither pulling away, but Utah maintained a narrow edge for much of the opening half, still clinging to a razor-thin, 24-23, lead by the eight-minute media timeout.

Out of the break, the Knights tightened up defensively, holding the Utes scoreless for nearly three minutes. The effort translated to the team’s offensive efficiency, generating a 12-2 run to give the Black and Gold a 33-26 advantage with 3:58 to play in the opening frame. 

Not letting the surge go unanswered for long, Utah burst out on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit before the half, but a final shot from Fulks sent the Knights into the locker room with a five-point edge, 41-36.

Both teams shot the ball well in the opening half, with UCF hitting 54.5% from the field and Utah close behind at 51.5%. Fulks drove the Knights’ offense throughout the game, finishing with 24 points and four assists. Jordan Burks added double figures of his own with 14 points, while anchoring the defensive effort with four steals and four rebounds.

Opening the second half with the same intensity they showed to close the first, the Knights immediately set the tone. A defensive stop on the opening possession turned into a John Bol layup on the other end, pushing the lead to 43-36. Utah responded quickly, however, drilling back‑to‑back threes to cut the margin to 44-42 with just under 18 minutes remaining.

Throughout the second half, UCF generated its advantage primarily through defensive pressure, forcing eight turnovers that translated into 18 points, an efficiency swing that kept the Knights in control for extended stretches. Even with those points, which allowed them to rebuild a seven‑point lead on two separate occasions, Utah refused to go away, and by the 7:58 mark, the Utes had strung together an unanswered 10‑point run to reclaim the lead, 62-59.

The final minutes became a tug‑of‑war, each side trading blows as the clock ticked down, fighting to take a decisive lead. When Burks buried a clutch three, it looked like the Knights had finally delivered the final blow, going up 71-68 with just 31 seconds left. But a costly defensive foul opened the door for Utah, and the Utes capitalized at the line to knot the game at 71.

Flawless execution 🤩@Luhchriis x @Jordanburks123 pic.twitter.com/41JlaCynUV

— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) February 22, 2026

But just over time looked indefinite, a shooting foul sent Fulks to the line with just 13 seconds in regulation. Despite the pressure, Fulks remained composed, knocking down both attempts, providing the decisive margin in a 73-71 road victory and closing out a hard‑fought finish in Salt Lake City. 

The win boosts the Knights to 8-6 in conference play, marking UCF’s most conference wins since joining the Big 12 ahead of the 2023-24 season. The victory comes at a crucial moment, as attention shifts toward the postseason, no Big 12 team with a winning conference record has ever missed the NCAA tournament.

Got it done in Salt Lake ☑️ pic.twitter.com/yVbYryim7o

— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) February 22, 2026

UP NEXT
The Knights will remain out west, taking on the BYU Cougars in late night matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with tipoff set for 11 PM, or you can follow along on 96.9 The Game using the link here.