UCF used relentless defensive effort to pull off the Knights’ biggest win of the season, upsetting No. 15 Cincinnati Sunday in front of a raucous crowd at CFE Arena.
The Knights were holding onto a slim 51-49 lead with 2.8 seconds left when center Tacko Fall knocked down two freethrows to shut down a late Bearcats rally.
UCF (19-10, 10-7 American Athletic Conference) clinched a 53-49 victory over Cincinnati (25-4, 14-2 AAC) on senior day, with fans storming the floor shortly after the final buzzer.
Senior guard Matt Williams crowd surfed as fans showed their love for the UCF team that delivered the first win over a top 25 opponent since 2011, fourth win over a ranked opponent in school history and first win over Cincinnati in nine matchups between the programs.
B.J. Taylor led the Knights with 27 points and was the only UCF player to record double-figure scoring.
His teammates made up for their lack of offensive punch with suffocating defensive effort emphasized by coach Johnny Dawkins during his first season leading the program.
Despite relying on a seven-man rotation, the Knights never let up and limited the Bearcats to 29.6 percent field-goal shooting and 29.2 percent from 3-point range.
Guard Jacob Evans led Cincinnati with 17 points and was one of two players to finished with double-figure scoring.
Check back soon for more postgame updates.
Matt Williams reflects on senior season with UCF basketball
Matt Williams reflects on senior season with UCF basketball
Matt Williams reflects on senior season with UCF basketball
Matt Williams reflects on senior season with UCF basketball
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins, guard B.J. Taylor and center Tacko Fall preview the Knights’ matchup with Tulsa Tuesday.
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins, guard B.J. Taylor and center Tacko Fall preview the Knights’ matchup with Tulsa Tuesday.
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
UCF’s 2017 football schedule was released by the American Athletic Conference Thursday morning.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
UCF head coach Scott Frost talks about how they’ve learned to save scholarship spots after National Signing Day to attract more and better recruits.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
sgreen@orlandosentinel.com
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