In a thrilling showdown at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, UCF pulled off an exhilarating comeback to edge Cincinnati 66-65 in overtime during the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. This victory not only snapped the Knights' three-game losing streak but also bolstered their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Jamichael Stillwell, despite battling an injury, was pivotal in this win, scoring four of his team-high 17 points in the extra period. His performance was crucial in pushing the Knights into the quarterfinals, where they'll face top-seeded Arizona.
The Knights (21-10, 9-9 Big 12) orchestrated an impressive 8-0 run in the final two minutes of regulation to knot the game at 58 and force overtime. This victory marked UCF's second triumph over Cincinnati (18-5, 9-9 Big 12) this season, having previously edged them out 73-72 in January.
Former UCF standout Moustapha Thiam was a force for the Bearcats, contributing 18 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks. Yet, it wasn't enough to fend off the Knights, who have now won at least one game in the conference tournament for three consecutive seasons, though they have yet to move past the quarterfinals.
UCF's shooting woes were apparent, hitting just 34% from the field, their second-lowest mark this season. Their struggles extended beyond the arc, where they connected on less than 20% of their attempts for the second game in a row.
Stillwell's resilience was on full display, as he notched his eighth double-double of the season, adding a season-high 15 rebounds. This win is a timely boost for UCF's NCAA Tournament resume, especially with Selection Sunday looming. The Knights have been teetering on the bubble, but this victory over Cincinnati, coupled with their five Quad 1 wins, strengthens their case.
The game began with UCF's John Bol scoring on a hook shot, but Cincinnati quickly responded, building a 9-2 lead with a trio of three-pointers. The Knights struggled early, shooting a mere 17% before Chris Johnson's three-pointer narrowed the gap to 11-5. UCF clawed back with a 7-0 run, but Cincinnati answered with an 8-0 surge, stretching the lead to 19-9.
Capitalizing on Cincinnati's turnovers, UCF pulled within 21-19. A brief lead was snatched back by Thiam's three-pointer, ending the half with the Knights trailing 27-26.
Cincinnati came out strong in the second half, extending their lead to 39-32. Despite UCF's shooting woes, they remained within striking distance. At one point, Cincinnati's lead swelled to 49-37, but UCF responded with a determined 13-4 run, closing the gap to 53-50.
Cincinnati seemed to regain control at 58-52, yet UCF wasn't finished. A strategic timeout at the 2:06 mark sparked a 6-0 run, tying the game at 58 with a clutch layup from Riley Kugel. Cincinnati's Day Day Thomas missed a potential game-winner, sending the contest into overtime.
Riley Kugel ended with 15 points, while John Bol contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, rounding out a team effort that could prove pivotal in UCF's postseason aspirations.