For most of the night, it looked like the three-point line was UCF’s worst enemy. But in the final minutes, it became their greatest weapon.
The Knights pulled off a dramatic 79-76 comeback win over Arizona State, flipping the script in the closing stretch with a barrage of clutch threes. After starting an ice-cold 2-for-17 from beyond the arc, UCF caught fire when it mattered most-drilling their final five attempts from deep in the last six minutes to erase a 12-point deficit and snatch the win.
The dagger came from forward Jordan Burks, who stepped into a left-wing three with confidence and buried it to give UCF a two-point lead with under 30 seconds left. That shot would hold up as the game-winner, capping off a wild finish that showcased the Knights’ resilience.
Arizona State, meanwhile, had the opposite trajectory. The Sun Devils looked in control with a 72-61 lead and just over five minutes remaining, but their offense stalled at the worst possible time. They managed just one field goal the rest of the way, unable to match UCF’s late-game surge.
Depth continues to be a concern for the Knights. For the second straight game, they were without backup center Jermey Foumena and leaned heavily on a tight rotation-only three players came off the bench. Foul trouble added to the challenge, with starters Riley Kugel and Jamichael Stillwell both finishing with four fouls.
Still, UCF found a way, and it started on the glass. Burks and Stillwell have made rebounding a point of pride, calling it part of the team’s identity to “hunt” boards-and that mentality showed.
The Knights dominated the glass, out-rebounding Arizona State 40-28. That stat continues to be a strong predictor of their success: UCF is now a perfect 15-0 this season when winning the rebounding battle.
Now sitting on the momentum of a gritty comeback, the Knights will stay home in Orlando to gear up for a major test: a Saturday noon showdown with #11-ranked Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have dropped just one game in conference play, setting the stage for what should be a high-stakes clash with plenty on the line.