UCF guard Darius Johnson sparks win over Milwaukee

If UCF men’s basketball has anything to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it’s Darius Johnson.

The senior guard scored a season-high 28 points to help spark the Knights past Milwaukee 84-76 on Wednesday night. It was his second consecutive 20-plus-point game after scoring 25 points in a 109-102 loss to LSU on Sunday.

Johnson was 8 of 10 from 3-point range, while the rest of the team shot 21% (3 of 14).

“Darius was terrific. He had a great night,” said coach Johnny Dawkins. “More so than even the points and shooting the basketball, he’s so comfortable in his role now and leading our team. He’s running the show and the guys are getting more comfortable playing with him.”

“I put a lot of work into my shooting,” said Johnson. “That’s one of the biggest things I’ve worked on since my early years. The ball just felt great coming out of my hands.”

UCF (5-2) brushed off another slow start — missing eight of its first 11 shots — before heating up and putting together a 19-10 run that gave the Knights its largest lead at 28-20 with 6:26 in the first half.

Guard Jordan Ivy-Curry provided the spark, scoring 9 straight points during a two-minute stretch that helped the team build its early advantage.

The Knights finished on a 13-10 run to retain a 43-40 halftime advantage.

Milwaukee (5-3) went on a 4-0 run to start the second half, grabbing its first lead since the 12:59 mark in the first at 44-43. But back-to-back 3s by Johnson and Deebo Coleman helped push UCF back out front, 49-46 with 15:49.

The Panthers hung around most of the second half, pulling to within a point of the Knights, but couldn’t find a way to finish.

Curry was the only other player other than Johnson in double-figures with 14.

Center Moustapha Thiam missed the game with an undisclosed injury.

Thiam, a 7-foot-2 true freshman, is averaging 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 20.7 minutes this season. Forward Rokus Jocius (6-10, 260) replaced him in the starting lineup.

“He tweaked his ankle, but it was something that we want to let him continue to recover and get better,” said Dawkins. “He should be fine, but he’s a day-to-day right now.”

Dior Johnson (9 points) and Tyler Hendricks (6 points) stepped up in Thiam’s absence, providing a much-needed boost off the bench.

“We talk about that all the time, the ability of guys to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them,” Dawkins said. “Because you’re going to have games like this, where you don’t have your full roster or where guys may be in foul trouble and who’s going to step up and who’s going to contribute.”

Kentrell Pullian was one of four Panthers in double-figures with 15 points, along with Jamichael Stillwell (14), Themus Fulks (13) and AJ McKee (12).

UCF was coming off a disappointing showing in last week’s Greenbrier Tip-Off tournament in West Virginia, with the Knights losing to No. 19 Wisconsin (86-70) and LSU (109-102 3OT). The losses dropped the team to No. 81 in the latest KenPom rankings.

Poor shooting continues to haunt Dawkins’ team, with UCF connecting on just 38% (58 of 153) of its field goals during the two-game stretch. That includes 24% (12 of 51) from the 3-point line.

The Knights are still without Jaylin Sellers (undisclosed) and Mikey Williams (foot), who haven’t played this season. Dawkins reiterated that there is no timetable for their return but is optimistic it will be sometime soon.

UCF’s next game is against Cal Baptist on Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN+) at Addition Financial Arena.

Matt Murschel can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@lehcsrumm

UP NEXT

UCF vs. Cal Baptist

4 p.m., Sunday, Addition Financial Arena

TV: ESPN+