Written by Adrian Beecher
Orlando, FL- Daiquan Walker scored 20 points in his final game at CFE Arena to lead the Knights to a 73-65 victory over Tulane on Senior Night. UCF’s big man, freshman Tacko Fall, added a double–double to the mix with 17 points and 13 rebounds, alongside 5 blocks.
Early on, it looked as if UCF’s Senior night would be spoiled. Tulane burst out to an early 6-0 lead in the first 3 minutes of the game. Then 9 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game had the Knights playing catch-up, facing a 21-9 deficit to the Green Wave with 9:04 left in the 1st half.
After Knights head coach Donnie Jones called a timeout to get his team refocused, they went on the attack. Tacko Fall scored 2 quick layups, and then Adonys Henriquez & Daiquan Walker drilled back to back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to just 3 points with 6:10 left in the half.
Fall would then score 9 points in the final 5 minutes of the 1st half to lead UCF into the locker room with a 33-32 lead. Fall finished the 1st half shooting 6 for 6 with 13 points, 9 rebounds & 4 blocks. Leading the way for Tulane was Malik Morgan, with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
After Tulanes Dylan Osetkowski slammed home the first point’s of the 2nd half to give the Green Wave a 34-33 lead, UCF exploded on a 14-2 run. With 13:04 left in the game, Senior Staphon Blair ‘s back-to-back layups gave UCF a 49-39 lead. And then they started to run away with it.
Walker and Henriquez again hit back-to-back 3’s; then Tacko Fall added another slam-dunk to stretch the UCF lead to 16. With 8:42 left in regulation, Henriquez drilled another triple to put the Knights up 60-43 on Tulane. Then Tulane went on a run.
Over the next 6 minutes, UCF would make just 2 of 9 shots from the field and turn the ball over 6 times. Tulane on the other hand, made 7 of 13 shots, tallied 4 blocks and snagged 3 steals. This 6 minute defensive and offensive barrage from the Green Wave cut UCF’s 17-point lead significantly.
With 2:19 left to play and UCF leading just 64-60, coach Jones once again called an important timeout for his Knights to regroup. Shortly after the timeout, Daiquan Walker sunk a jumper to make it a 6-point lead for UCF.
Tulane missed 2 three point attempts on their ensuing possession, and by then there was only free throws in the future for the Knights. UCF hit 7 of 9 shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal a 73-65 Senior Night victory at CFE Arena.
Early on, it looked as if UCF’s Senior night would be spoiled. Tulane burst out to an early 6-0 lead in the first 3 minutes of the game. Then 9 turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game had the Knights playing catch-up, facing a 21-9 deficit to the Green Wave with 9:04 left in the 1st half.
After Knights head coach Donnie Jones called a timeout to get his team refocused, they went on the attack. Tacko Fall scored 2 quick layups, and then Adonys Henriquez & Daiquan Walker drilled back to back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to just 3 points with 6:10 left in the half.
Fall would then score 9 points in the final 5 minutes of the 1st half to lead UCF into the locker room with a 33-32 lead. Fall finished the 1st half shooting 6 for 6 with 13 points, 9 rebounds & 4 blocks. Leading the way for Tulane was Malik Morgan, with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
After Tulanes Dylan Osetkowski slammed home the first point’s of the 2nd half to give the Green Wave a 34-33 lead, UCF exploded on a 14-2 run. With 13:04 left in the game, Senior Staphon Blair ‘s back-to-back layups gave UCF a 49-39 lead. And then they started to run away with it.
Walker and Henriquez again hit back-to-back 3’s; then Tacko Fall added another slam-dunk to stretch the UCF lead to 16. With 8:42 left in regulation, Henriquez drilled another triple to put the Knights up 60-43 on Tulane. Then Tulane went on a run.
Over the next 6 minutes, UCF would make just 2 of 9 shots from the field and turn the ball over 6 times. Tulane on the other hand, made 7 of 13 shots, tallied 4 blocks and snagged 3 steals. This 6 minute defensive and offensive barrage from the Green Wave cut UCF’s 17-point lead significantly.
With 2:19 left to play and UCF leading just 64-60, coach Jones once again called an important timeout for his Knights to regroup. Shortly after the timeout, Daiquan Walker sunk a jumper to make it a 6-point lead for UCF.
Tulane missed 2 three point attempts on their ensuing possession, and by then there was only free throws in the future for the Knights. UCF hit 7 of 9 shots from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal a 73-65 Senior Night victory at CFE Arena.