The energy inside Addition Financial Arena on Saturday was electric well before tipoff. UCF students packed the building early, creating a buzz that you could feel in the air.
With top-ranked Arizona in town, the stakes were high, and the Knights' faithful showed up in full force-so much so that the student section had to squeeze in tighter just to fit everyone. It was standing-room-only, and the atmosphere delivered everything you'd expect from a marquee Big 12 showdown.
This was just the second time in UCF history that the Knights hosted a No. 1-ranked team, and they were chasing a milestone: their first-ever win over a top-ranked opponent. Head coach Johnny Dawkins had called on fans to be the sixth man, and they answered with volume and passion. The only thing missing was the upset.
Despite a career night from Themus Fulks, who dropped 30 points and dished out 8 assists, UCF couldn’t quite get over the hump, falling 84-77 to an unbeaten Arizona squad that remains perfect on the season.
Arizona (18-0, 5-0 Big 12) showed why it’s sitting atop the college basketball mountain, with five players scoring in double figures. Jayden Bradley led the way with 23 points, followed by Brayden Burries (18), Motejus Krivas (17), and a pair of 10-point contributions from Ivan Kharchenkov and Tobe Awaka. Even with projected NBA lottery pick Koa Peat limited by foul trouble and held to just 4 points, the Wildcats had more than enough firepower.
UCF (14-3, 3-2 Big 12) had its moments, especially in the first half, where Fulks caught fire late to bring the Knights storming back. Down 26-11 after an Arizona 19-2 run, UCF looked like it might get buried early. The Knights had gone ice cold, hitting just one of their 13 shots during that stretch and going nearly four minutes without a bucket.
But they didn’t fold. Jordan Burks got things going again with a hustle play that led to a goaltending call and UCF’s first points in more than five minutes.
Burks followed that up with a bucket and a three, and then Fulks took over. He scored 14 of his 16 first-half points in the final six minutes before halftime, slicing through Arizona’s defense and hitting tough shots to pull the Knights within two, 40-38, just before the break.
Arizona opened the second half with a quick 6-2 burst, prompting Dawkins to burn a timeout. But Fulks kept battling, drilling a three and setting up Riley Kugel for a layup that made it 49-45. A few minutes later, Fulks tied his previous career high with a tough finish through contact, cutting the deficit to just two with under 14 minutes to play.
That’s when Arizona, as it had all game, responded with a run of its own. The Wildcats ripped off a 14-3 stretch to push their lead to 65-52-their biggest of the second half-and never looked back. Fulks would go on to set a new personal best with another late layup, but the gap proved too wide to close.
Arizona’s efficiency was a difference-maker. The Wildcats shot 53% from the field, while UCF hovered just under 40%. That kind of disparity is tough to overcome, even with a standout performance like Fulks’ and a raucous home crowd behind you.
For the Knights, it’s another hard-fought lesson against a powerhouse program. They’re still searching for that elusive first win over a No. 1 team, now 0-5 in such matchups.
But Saturday showed they’re not far off. With Fulks emerging as a dynamic playmaker and the home crowd proving it can be a real factor, UCF is building something-and nights like this, even in defeat, are part of the climb.