ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights toppled the Southern conference’s UNCG Spartans 65-54 in a tough contest to get their first win of the season.
“I’ll give UNCG credit, they played well and had confidence in it and I am really proud about how we closed the game out,” head coach Donnie Jones said. “That’s been our focal point here the last couple days.”
The first half was mostly back and forth with the Spartans grabbing the momentum early on as sophomore forward Marvin Smith knocked down two consecutive shots from beyond the arc. However, senior forward Shaheed Davis took charge early on for the Knights and helped reel in UNCG, posting 10 points and 6 rebounds in the first half.
UCF’s troubles in the first half came in the form of free throws once again as they shot just 50 percent from the line. Freshman center Tacko Fall came out firing on all cylinders though, scoring twice for UCF on a 6-0 run to bring the game to a 21-21 tie midway through the first half. The Knights led 29-28 going into halftime and Shaheed Davis’ night was clearly just getting starting.
“The first two games, you know, I just learned how to play at a different pace. Tonight it was just falling,” Davis said. “They did a good job of getting me the ball and believing in me. It just went my way tonight, other nights it is going to be somebody else.”
Davis and company opened the second half with a 7-0 run that placed the team firmly out in front, but the turnover bug reared its ugly head again and the Knights found themselves in another dogfight with the Spartans. After failing to score a point for just over six minutes, UCF found themselves down 48-43 with 6:45 remaining in the second half.
Justin McBride entered the game for the second time with 6:36 to go and scored consecutive baskets to give the Knights the lead and they never looked back. Shaheed Davis’ career night continued as the senior finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
“You got two ways to look at [his performance tonight]: I’m frustrated because I didn’t get what I wanted to get minutes wise, points wise or rebounds wise,” McBride said. “Or I’m tired of losing, we’re tired of losing. Every huddle now, last year we said a bunch of different things and every huddle now, we are all in.”
McBride would finish with eight points and one rebound and the Knights ending the game on a 22-6 run to close out their first victory of the season. The Knights head to Ohio to take on the Miami (OH) Redhawks in their next contest on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics Communications
