UCF Outmuscles #11 Texas Tech in Space Game Statement Win
The UCF Knights didn’t just beat a top-15 team Saturday-they imposed their will on one. Behind a gritty, physical performance and 21 points from Themus Fulks, UCF knocked off #11 Texas Tech 88-80 in front of a raucous home crowd at Addition Financial Arena. The Knights led for more than 36 minutes and never let up, not even when things got chaotic in the final seconds.
This wasn’t just another home win. This was a statement. UCF, now 17-4 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play, showed they belong in the thick of the conference race-and maybe even the national conversation.
Fulks Leads the Charge
Themus Fulks didn’t have the most efficient shooting night-9-of-23 from the field-but he controlled the tempo and made Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson work for everything. Fulks added seven assists and was the engine behind a UCF offense that poured in 48 points in the paint and dictated the pace for most of the afternoon.
Fulks is now up to 7.2 assists per game, second in the Big 12 behind Anderson and fourth nationally. That’s not a stat line you stumble into-it’s the mark of a floor general who knows how to run a team.
Owning the Glass-and the Grit
The real story of this win? UCF’s dominance on the boards.
The Knights outrebounded Texas Tech 35-23, including a 13-4 edge on the offensive glass that turned into 21 second-chance points. That’s not just hustle-that’s culture.
John Bol and Jamichael Stillwell both pulled down 10 rebounds, with Stillwell grabbing four on the offensive end. Bol played through a thigh injury after taking a knee in the first half, but still delivered 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and never backed down. Stillwell added 10 points and four assists, doing a little bit of everything.
Jordan Burks chipped in 17 points on just seven shots, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. His efficiency inside helped UCF control the paint all game long.
Even Riley Kugel, who was a game-time decision while battling the flu, gave the Knights 29 crucial minutes. He only scored nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, but his presence was felt-he finished with a team-best +14 in the plus-minus column. Sometimes, just being on the floor changes the game.
“They Found a Way”
Head coach Johnny Dawkins summed it up best after the game: “Every team has to find a way… and I think they did that tonight. They found a way.”
That mindset was evident from tip-off. UCF played with urgency, physicality, and a clear understanding of what it would take to beat a top-15 opponent.
They forced 13 turnovers and turned them into 18 points, while only giving up two points off their own six miscues. That kind of discipline wins games in February-and in March.
Toppin Shines, But UCF Closes the Door
Texas Tech’s JT Toppin looked every bit the Naismith Award candidate, dropping 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds. Anderson added 17 points and nine assists while playing all 40 minutes. But UCF never let either player fully take over.
When the Red Raiders cut the lead to 81-79 with under two minutes left, UCF responded with a 7-1 run to close the game. Texas Tech went 0-for-4 from the field with a turnover in the final stretch, and the Knights slammed the door shut.
Well, almost.
A Wild Finish-Twice
After Anderson missed Tech’s final shot, the buzzer sounded and UCF’s student section stormed the court. But officials had called a foul on the rebound with 0.2 seconds still on the clock. The handshake line was paused, the floor was cleared, and Texas Tech’s LeJuan Watts went to the line for two free throws.
He made one of two. Then the buzzer sounded again-and this time, the fans rushed the floor for good.
It was a chaotic ending, but it didn’t overshadow the effort. The 8,511 fans in attendance brought the energy all game long, amplified by the pregame block party and the unveiling of UCF’s Canaveral Blue “SpaceU” alternate uniforms for the annual Space Game.
Afterward, Dawkins compared the atmosphere to his days at Duke.
“You have to be kidding me to think that the Cameron Crazies don’t help what happens in that building,” he said. “The same thing applies here… It’s electric.
I’ve been through the Big 12 and its amazing, amazing atmospheres. And I’ll put our atmosphere up with all of them when we come out like we’ve done.
It helps us.”
Resume Builder
This win moves UCF to 2-2 against ranked opponents this season and gives them a crucial Quad 1 victory in the NET rankings. Coming into the game, UCF was 42nd, while Texas Tech sat at 17th.
Bracket Matrix had the Knights projected as an 8 seed, with ESPN’s Joe Lunardi slotting them at 9. That’s likely to shift in UCF’s favor after this one.
What’s Next: Houston on the Horizon
The Knights now hit the road for two straight, starting with a showdown against #10 Houston on Wednesday night. The last time UCF beat Houston? March 2019, when Tacko Fall and company knocked off the then-#8 Cougars to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
This team is starting to look like it could be on a similar path. The pieces are there-the toughness, the depth, the defense, the rebounding. And now, they’ve got the résumé win to match.
Saturday wasn’t just about Space Game uniforms and a hyped-up crowd. It was about a team showing it can compete-and win-against the best.