In a much-needed turnaround, the UCF Knights snapped their three-game skid with a decisive 82-71 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday night. This win is a crucial boost to their postseason aspirations.
Leading the charge was Jordan Burks, who matched his season high with 23 points and added seven rebounds. Themus Fulks also shone, contributing 14 points and dishing out seven assists.
The Knights welcomed back Jamichael Stillwell, who returned from a practice injury to post nine points and six rebounds. Devan Cambridge, after a tough fall in the previous game against West Virginia, chipped in with six points and six boards, marking his return to action.
UCF's performance at the free-throw line was nearly flawless, sinking 18 of 20 attempts. Their offensive movement was solid, with 17 assists showcasing their ball-sharing prowess. However, rebounding remains an area for improvement, as John Bol's early foul trouble limited his impact on the glass.
Defensively, the Knights put on a clinic in the first half, holding TCU to just 10 of 29 from the field and a mere two of 11 from beyond the arc. Burks was on fire, dropping 16 points in the first half alone, including four three-pointers, helping UCF secure a 42-28 halftime advantage in front of their home fans.
In the second half, Fulks continued his strong play, scoring 12 of his 14 points. George Beale provided a spark off the bench, adding eight points in the half and finishing with a season-high 11 points.
TCU's bench struggled, contributing only two points after the break. UCF extended their lead to as much as 19, but a 9-0 TCU run tightened the contest.
With this victory, UCF improves to 18-7 overall and notches their seventh win in Big 12 Conference play. They now lead the all-time series against TCU, 3-2.
Up next, the Knights head to Salt Lake City to face the University of Utah on Saturday, February 21st, with tipoff set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.