Johnny Dawkins didn’t need long to see the payoff from bringing Dior Johnson back to UCF.
Johnson exploded for 41 points in the Knights’ season-opening overtime win, and now UCF gets right back to work Friday night at home against Yale in Orlando, Fla.
The Knights opened with a wild 96-95 escape against Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, surviving a layup in the final seconds that forced overtime. Johnson took over from there, scoring 22 of his points after halftime and helping UCF steady itself when the game was slipping into chaos.
He finished the night by going 13 of 15 from the field and 11 of 15 at the line, including two free throws with 17 seconds left that pushed UCF ahead 96-92. He also helped spark a 7-0 run to open the extra period and then closed the door with four key points.
Dawkins said this summer made the difference for a player who had a quiet first stint with the program.
“So much fun this summer watching how he’s grown and developed,” Dawkins said of Johnson, who averaged 2.9 points during his first season at UCF. “He’s a very uncommon young man. I don’t think most of the kids in the country would have come back to the place that they left.”
Johnson’s path back to Orlando included a season at Tarleton State, where he averaged 24 points per game and shot 53.8% from 3-point range.
Florida Gulf Coast coach Patrick Chambers didn’t sugarcoat what happened after the game.
“We let Dior just crush us,” Chambers said. “We knew what he liked to do.
We’ve watched him very closely for years. He knows how to get the refs’ calls. ...
He’s a great player, and when they needed a big shot, he made big shots.”
Yale also comes in at 1-0 after opening with a 72-62 home win over Howard on Monday. Riley Fox led the Bulldogs with 19 points, one of four Yale players to finish in double figures, while Daniel Ogunyemi and Courtney Wallace each grabbed 11 rebounds.
Fox, who averaged 10 points per game last season as a sixth man, said his summer work with Wallace helped him handle a bigger role this year.
“Just trying to guard him because he’s pretty quick,” Fox said.
In Other News...
Kansas Faces A Troubling QB Question As UCF Gets A Lift
UCF is getting a timely boost at quarterback as it prepares for Kansas, with Alonza Barnett III expected to be back in the mix after working his way through a hamstring injury. The Knights have been piecing things together under center since Keyone Jenkins aggravated an ankle injury against Baylor, and Barnetts return would give the offense a much-needed stabilizing presence heading into a game that suddenly carries more intrigue on both sides.
The roster news is not all positive for UCF, though, with offensive lineman Owen Spell and defensive tackle RJ Jackson Jr. out for the rest of the regular season because of injuries. Even so, the bigger storyline may be on the other sideline, where Kansas is dealing with its own quarterback uncertainty as Isaiah Marshall, Cole Ballard and Chase Jenkins are all listed as questionable. That leaves both teams waiting on answers at the most important position on the field. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Faces A Sneaky Early Test Against A Team Fans Rarely See
Yales visit to Orlando gives UCF an early nonconference test against a program Knights fans almost never see, and it comes with a little extra intrigue because the Bulldogs already have a season-opening win under their belt. Yale is led by longtime coach James Jones and brings a familiar Ivy League profile built around structure, patience and a lineup that can make opponents work for every clean look.
For UCF, the game also arrives with some roster questions still taking shape after the opener, including how the Knights want to line up in the backcourt and who settles into the starting group. Yales core includes transfer Connor May along with forwards Trevor Mullin and Riley Fox, and the matchup carries the feel of a rare intersection between two programs that do not cross paths often, which makes the first meeting in more than three decades worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Had No Answer For Floridas Transfer Star In Blowout Loss
Floridas first road test under new coach Tammi Reiss turned into a showcase for Kiyomi McMiller, the transfer guard who arrived with plenty of buzz and left little doubt about why. McMiller erupted for a career-high 42 points and buried 7 of 10 shots from beyond the arc as the Gators rolled past UCF, 95-65, to move to 2-0. Vivian Iwuchukwu and Vanessa Harris also chipped in as Floridas offense kept finding answers all night.
For UCF, the issue was less about one hot hand than a game that got away from them once Florida settled in and started stretching the floor. The Knights never found a way to slow McMillers rhythm, and the margin kept growing as the Gators supporting cast added to the pressure. It was the kind of loss that leaves a lot to sort through, even if the bigger picture for Florida looks increasingly promising early in Reiss tenure. [Read more 🡒]