Knights force overtime, fall
UCF surges but can’t topple Wichita State
A.J. Davis and B.J. Taylor took this one personally. With No. 11 Wichita State visiting CFE Arena, the UCF tandem put the Knights on their shoulders and put on a show that took the Shockers to overtime.
The pair combined for 54 points on the Shockers — Davis with a career-high 31 and Taylor with 23. However, it just wasn’t enough Thursday night.
Despite some late energy from the Knights to force overtime, the Shockers relied on experience and poise to earn a 75-71 victory at CFE Arena.
UCF, however, certainly made things interesting.
The Knights seized momentum when Davis sent the game into overtime with a rebound of a loose ball and a desperation 3-pointer that banked in off the glass.
“Usually when you bank in a 3, that team wins. That’s called karma, but tonight that didn’t happen,” Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. “He didn’t bank in all of them. He was tremendous. That’s the best I’ve ever seen him play. He was dynamite tonight. … What a warrior tonight. He was really tough. … He and B.J. Taylor really played tremendous basketball.”
Davis actually banked in two 3-pointers Thursday, evidence of the way things went for the UCF senior, but he wasn’t just launching shots off the backboard. Davis barely left the floor, playing 43 minutes, hitting 9 of 16 field goals (6 of 9 3 pointers) and 7 of 11 free throws. He also led all players in rebounds with 14.
The late rally by UCF (17-12, 8-9 American Athletic Conference) made it thrilling for the home crowd. Wichita State was threatening a blowout, building a 64-55 lead with 4:17 left in the game, but the Knights scored 11 of the final 13 points in regulation and Davis’ prayer of a 3-pointer forced overtime.
Davis also hit a 3-pointer with 1:15 left as UCF showed patience, working the shot clock down until late in the count when Taylor found Davis all alone with a kickout pass. Davis buried it and the announced crowd of 5,930 went wild.
Then came the shot that sent the game to OT. It was an unlikely scenario inside the final 10 seconds of regulation. Taylor missed a long 3-point attempt and the ensuing scrum for the rebound led to the ball rolling back out to an awaiting Davis, who tossed up the prayer that was answered and it kept the crowd in a frenzy.
“It just kind of bounced around and I was able to get it and square up to the basket,” Davis said. “I wanted to make sure it got there and it just kind of banked in and fell. Whatever you want to call it, luck or skill or whatever.
“We competed hard. It just came down to a couple of plays here and there that they made and we didn’t.”
The Knights made things difficult for the Shockers (24-5, 14-3) early, taking advantage of poor Wichita State shooting and roaring out to a 22-11 lead in the first 12 minutes. With each missed WSU shot, UCF was strong on the defensive boards and the Knights also converted on the offensive end, going on an 11-0 run over a span of 4:24. During the stretch, UCF had a 9-2 rebound advantage, but the momentum quickly shifted. Wichita State eventually enjoyed a 42-35 edge in rebounds.
Wichita State staged its own spurt and built a 36-29 lead by halftime, during which time the Shockers warmed up on the offensive end and also narrowed the rebounding margin to 17-16 at the break.
“It was a tough, tough loss. We played against a very good basketball team and I think their experience showed in the end,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “I’m really proud of our guys. I thought we fought all night and did a lot of positive things throughout the game.
“We played with a lot of desire and played with a lot of passion and that’s who we are. … They just were a little bit better tonight than we were.”