UCF’s losing streak grows to three with home loss to Cincinnati

During halftime of UCF‘s game against Cincinnati, the video board at Addition Financial Arena displayed the latest Bracketology report from ESPN. The latest projection had the Knights as the final team in the 68-team NCAA tournament field.

There was no doubt that Wednesday’s showdown carried a little extra juice with both teams desperately needing a win to improve their postseason hopes.

Although UCF started strong, the Knights could not maintain momentum as Cincinnati secured a 93-83 victory.

“We’ve got to be better and capable of it,” said coach Johnny Dawkins. “It’s a long season and this has been a tough stretch for us, and we have to find a way to fight out of it. That’s the bottom line. There’s no magic pill you can take. You’ve got to fight your way out of it.”

“I guess we weren’t locked in. We weren’t locked in,” said forward Keyshawn Hall. “I guess the game didn’t mean enough to us because if it meant enough, we should get stops because we knew what this game meant.”

UCF (13-9, 4-7 Big 12) has dropped three consecutive games for the first time since suffering a four-game losing streak between Feb. 10 and Feb. 20, 2024. The loss is another blow to the NCAA tourney hopes of the Knights, who continue to teeter on the bubble.

Cincinnati (13-9, 3-8 Big 12) snapped a four-game losing streak, earning its first conference win since Jan. 18.

“It’s been a tough, tough stretch for us over the last month and a tough first half of league play and we just haven’t had nights where we’ve been able to put it all together and have a bunch of guys play like we expect them to play and they expect themselves to play. Tonight, we got back to that against a really good team,” said UC coach Wes Miller.

Moustapha Thiam got UCF’s offense started early in the first half with two dunks within the first three minutes, helping the Knights take a 9-4 lead. Guard Darius Johnson contributed by delivering four quick assists, allowing UCF to extend its lead to 13-8 with 14:26 remaining.

However, the Knights hit a cold spell, struggling to make a field goal for over five minutes while Cincinnati took advantage and moved ahead, 19-15. With some timely shooting, the Bearcats increased their lead to 32-28 as UCF struggled offensively.

UCF tied the game at 32 with two minutes left in the half, leading to a back-and-forth exchange of baskets. Cincinnati held a 40-36 lead at halftime.

Twice, the Knights got within 2 points in the second half but couldn’t find a way to overcome the Bearcats in the end.

Hall led UCF with 23 points while Darius Johnson had 21 and Thiam added 14.

UCF welcomed back guard Mikey Williams and forward JJ Taylor, both of whom missed Saturday’s loss to BYU with undisclosed illnesses.

The Knights were again without guard Jaylin Sellers, who has been out since Jan. 5 with an unspecified back injury. The senior has appeared in three games this season, averaging 6 points and 1.3 rebounds.

Matt Murschel can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@lehcsrumm

Up next …

UCF at Baylor

When: 2, Saturday, Foster Pavilion (Waco, Texas)

TV: ESPN+