Banged-up Knights hold off late Bulldogs rally for win

UCF survived a furious late rally from visiting Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night to squeak past the Bulldogs, 68-65, at CFE Arena.

The Knights (2-0) looked to be coasting comfortably with a 63-52 lead with 3:42 left in the game, but then UCF got a bit lackadaisical.

The visitors from Boiling Springs, N.C., hit three 3-pointers and caused three consecutive UCF turnovers down the stretch, but the Knights were able to hold off the Bulldogs (0-3) during their last two possessions to pull out the victory.

UCF, which had top players B.J. Taylor and Tacko Fall on the bench nursing injuries, was led by A.J. Davis’ 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Knights were fortunate to have a 31-28 lead at halftime considering UCF shot just 33 percent (8-of-24) from the field in the first 20 minutes. The Knights took advantage of numerous trips to the foul line, however, and hit 13-of-18 first-half free throws to overcome their cold shooting from the field.

Brown had eight firsthalf points and was 6-of-8 from the line. GardnerWebb went to the line just six times in the first half, making five.

The Knights got a pair of 3-pointers from Terrell Allen and Chance McSpadden just before halftime to give UCF their advantage at the break.

UCF hosts William & Mary Saturday at 7 p.m. Whitney Young High to the Class 4A state title as a junior. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.9 assists for the Mean Streets AAU team of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).

Durr (6-11, 230) currently attends Bradenton’s Victory Rock Prep, but averaged 12.4 points and 9.6 rebounds last season at Oldsmar Christian, helping produce a Sunshine Independent Athletic Association title. This past summer, he averaged 5.1 points and 4.2 boards for the Atlanta Xpress on the Under Armour circuit.

Williams (6-6, 180), the first of the trio to verbally commit, helped Calhoun County (Ga.) to a Class 1-A state title as a freshmen, and led it to the state title game again as a junior.

No. 22 Seton Hall 84, Indiana 68:

JULIO CORTEZ/AP Indiana guard Aljami Durham (1) goes up for a shot against Seton Hall center Angel Delgado (31) during the first half Wednesday night.