The SpaceU Citronauts (17-4) upset #11 Texas Tech (16-5) for this year’s Space Game, with the final score of 88-80. This is UCF’s second win against a ranked opponent this season, and their third straight conference win, a team first since joining the Big 12.
Stakes were high at Addition Financial Arena, and the SpaceU Citronauts came to play. The 11-ranked Red Raiders looked startled from the beginning, and UCF would capitalize on their mistakes. By the first media timeout, the Knights had a six-point lead.
Returning from the media timeout, Texas Tech would tie the game after some quick buckets. This would not bother the Knights as they continued to perform on both ends of the court. By the second media timeout, they held a tight two-point lead.
The Red Raiders would tie the game once again, but UCF would continue chasing the lead. Devan Cambridge would be issued a technical foul, and the Red Raiders would make one out of their two free throws.
John Bol would go down clutching his left knee area with under a minute left in the first half, but returned to the game in the second half. The first half would end with the Knights up 44-40.
Riley Kugel would knock down two free throws, giving UCF a six-point lead to start the second half. A John Bol and-one would send the game into the first media timeout of the half.
A Themus Fulks three would give the Knights a nine-point lead, and it appeared that UCF was playing their best basketball. However, Texas Tech would cut the Knights’ lead to three points.
With just under ten minutes remaining, Carmelo Pacheco would hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired, and the Red Raiders would continue to chase after UCF’s lead. After a Themus Fulks lay-up, Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland would be forced to call a timeout.
Both teams were trading baskets, and with 2:46 left on the clock, the Knights had a four-point lead and forced a Red Raiders turnover to regain possession.
A slam by Chris Johnson would officially ice the game for the Knights with 26 seconds left. The Knightmare began to line up right by the court, ready to storm. Texas Tech would start to play the foul game, and it was game over.
UCF gets their second ranked win of the year with the final score of 88-80 over the Red Raiders. The Knights improve to 17-4 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play.
Leading all scorers was Texas Tech’s JT Toppin with 27 points; he also recorded 10 assists. For UCF, Themus Fulks had 21 points.
The Knights travel to Texas next to face #7 Houston on February 4th, with a 7:00 p.m. scheduled tipoff time.
