Written by Austin Fackler
Orlando, FL - Tacko Fall and AJ Davis combined for 19 points and 18 rebounds, while the UCF bench outscored Nebraska’s 23-5 as the Knights held off a late run by the Huskers to secure a 68-59 victory in the first round of the Advocare Invitational.
UCF started out hot scoring on three of their first four offense possessions with ease, Nebraska would not stay quiet for long going on a quick 7-2 run to take a 7-6 lead into the first media timeout. Following the timeout, the game slowed down as UCF looked to take advantage of their 7’6 center Tacko Fall.
The Knights started to pull away mid-way through the second half going on 17-0 run to help increase their lead to 27-10 with 6:09 remaining in the first half. UCF kept the pressure on not letting Nebraska get into a rhythm ending the quarter with a 16-point lead 36-20. Ceasar DeJeaus lead the Knights with 10 points in the first half as Glynn Watson Jr. lead Nebraska with 8 points.
Starting the second half the Cornhuskers came out strong going on a 6-2 run to cut the Knights lead to twelve with 17:52 left in the second half. The Knights were able to fight off the run by Nebraska, however the Cornhuskers kept chipping away at the lead and after a 3 pointer from James Palmer Jr. the Knights lead was cut to 8 with 6:39 left in the game.
After the game went scoreless for two minutes Jordy Tshimanga broke the drought with a layup that cut the UCF lead 6 with 4:49 left in the game. The Knights hung tough playing intense defense and forcing Nebraska into taking low quality shots late while the UCF offense kept attacking not allowing Nebraska to get any closer than 6 points. The Knights were able to hold on and win a close game against by the score of 68-59
After the game Coach Johnny Hawkins was happy with the way his team played saying “We knew defensively we were going to have to be at our best and I thought our guys were and I think we played terrific defense most of the night and that gave us a chance to win the game.”
The Knights will look forward to playing the winner of the West Virginia vs. Marist game as Nebraska will be taking on the loser of that game in the Advocare Invitational Tournament.
UCF started out hot scoring on three of their first four offense possessions with ease, Nebraska would not stay quiet for long going on a quick 7-2 run to take a 7-6 lead into the first media timeout. Following the timeout, the game slowed down as UCF looked to take advantage of their 7’6 center Tacko Fall.
The Knights started to pull away mid-way through the second half going on 17-0 run to help increase their lead to 27-10 with 6:09 remaining in the first half. UCF kept the pressure on not letting Nebraska get into a rhythm ending the quarter with a 16-point lead 36-20. Ceasar DeJeaus lead the Knights with 10 points in the first half as Glynn Watson Jr. lead Nebraska with 8 points.
Starting the second half the Cornhuskers came out strong going on a 6-2 run to cut the Knights lead to twelve with 17:52 left in the second half. The Knights were able to fight off the run by Nebraska, however the Cornhuskers kept chipping away at the lead and after a 3 pointer from James Palmer Jr. the Knights lead was cut to 8 with 6:39 left in the game.
After the game went scoreless for two minutes Jordy Tshimanga broke the drought with a layup that cut the UCF lead 6 with 4:49 left in the game. The Knights hung tough playing intense defense and forcing Nebraska into taking low quality shots late while the UCF offense kept attacking not allowing Nebraska to get any closer than 6 points. The Knights were able to hold on and win a close game against by the score of 68-59
After the game Coach Johnny Hawkins was happy with the way his team played saying “We knew defensively we were going to have to be at our best and I thought our guys were and I think we played terrific defense most of the night and that gave us a chance to win the game.”
The Knights will look forward to playing the winner of the West Virginia vs. Marist game as Nebraska will be taking on the loser of that game in the Advocare Invitational Tournament.