UCF Rallies Late, Stuns Arizona State with Clutch Shooting in 79-76 Thriller
For most of Tuesday night, it looked like UCF was heading for a frustrating loss. The shots weren’t falling, the energy was inconsistent, and Arizona State had built a comfortable double-digit lead with under eight minutes to play. But then the Knights found their rhythm-and once they did, they didn’t look back.
Down 64-53 and shooting a frigid 2-for-16 from beyond the arc, UCF flipped the switch in dramatic fashion. What followed was a flurry of clutch threes, defensive grit, and a finish that had the home crowd on its feet and the Knights walking off the floor with a gritty 79-76 win.
Let’s break it down.
The Comeback Spark: Threes Start Falling
The turning point came when senior guard Riley Kugel and junior guard Chris Johnson drilled three consecutive three-pointers to pull UCF within striking distance. The Knights had struggled all night from deep, but in crunch time, the shots started falling-and with them came belief.
Then, with just over a minute left, junior guard Carmelo Pacheco stepped into a three and buried it. That gave UCF its first lead of the second half and sent a jolt through the building.
Arizona State’s leading scorer, Maurice “Mo” Odom, momentarily silenced the crowd by knocking down two clutch free throws to put the Sun Devils back in front. But UCF had one more answer.
On the next possession, Kugel drove and kicked it out to junior forward Jordan Burks, who calmly rose and knocked down a deep three to give the Knights a two-point edge. It was a confident shot in a high-pressure moment-and it wasn’t the last big play Burks would make.
On the ensuing defensive possession, Burks tipped a pass and secured the steal, effectively sealing the win for UCF. A dagger three followed by a game-saving defensive play? That’s how you close out a comeback.
Early Struggles and a First-Half Battle
UCF actually started strong, building an early lead before Arizona State’s bench brought the Sun Devils back into it. Senior guard Anthony “Pig” Johnson came off the bench and immediately made his presence felt. He scored eight points and forced multiple UCF turnovers, providing the kind of spark Arizona State has come to expect from him-he averages over 13 points per game in that role.
Senior forward Allen Mukeba also made his mark in the first half, scoring seven points and throwing down a powerful and-one dunk that brought the Arizona State bench to its feet.
Kugel and Burks responded with highlight dunks of their own-this game had no shortage of above-the-rim action. Kugel added seven points in the opening 20 minutes, while Burks chipped in eight.
Sophomore forward John Bol quietly had one of his best halves of the season. He scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds before halftime, showing poise in the post and making smart reads when Arizona State sent pressure. His physical presence helped UCF stay within striking distance despite the cold perimeter shooting.
At the break, UCF trailed 39-35, having gone just 1-for-10 from deep. Arizona State, meanwhile, had connected on five threes and looked in control.
Resilience and Emotion Down the Stretch
What stood out most about UCF’s performance wasn’t just the comeback-it was the resilience they showed in getting there. Even when the shots weren’t falling, the Knights kept playing hard. They didn’t let missed threes or turnovers sap their energy.
That mindset paid off in the final minutes, when they locked in defensively and started making the kind of shots they’d been missing all night.
After the final buzzer, fifth-year senior point guard Themus Fulks let out a roar and turned to the student section, pumping up the crowd in a moment of raw emotion. It was a celebration not just of the win, but of the grit it took to get there.
What’s Next
This win couldn’t have come at a better time for UCF (16-4, 5-3 Big 12). With a ranked matchup against No. 11 Texas Tech looming on Saturday, the Knights needed momentum-and they got it in dramatic fashion.
Arizona State (11-10, 2-6 Big 12) will walk away wondering how it slipped away, but for UCF, this was a statement: even when the shots aren’t falling, they’re never out of it.
And if they can bring this same fight into the weekend, they’ll be a tough out for anyone.