Written by Adrian Beecher
Orlando, FL - UCF lost a heartbreaker to Wichita State Thursday night at CFE Arena, 75-71. It came in a game where senior guard AJ Davis had a career high in points and the Knights pushed the 11th ranked Shockers to the brink in overtime.
Starting fast, the Shockers knocked down two triples right out of the gate. The Knights were able to calm things down after that as they kept tight with Wichita State. As we reached the under 16 minute timeout, WSU lead UCF 11-10.
Out of the break the Knights offense exploded, going on a 12-0 run headed by two triples from Davis. As they reached the Under 12 minute timeout, the Knights were the ones doing the shocking, leading 22-11. The run would be put to an end by WSU forward Markis McDuffie as his hit a layup and added a basket from a foul on the play. That was the start of an 8-0 run that had the Shockers trailing just 22-19 as UCF took a timeout with 9:34 left in the 1st half.
As the triple theme of the night continued, a triple from UCF guard Ceaser DeJesus ended the Shockers program. The Shockers would regain the lead with 5:27 left in the half as center Shaquille Morris hit a layup to make it 25-24. In the first 10 minutes of the game, UCF had out rebounded the Shockers 10-3, while in the final 10 minutes WSU out rebounded the Knights 14– 6.
This showed up clearly on the scoreboard as the Shockers went on a 15-1 run on the Knights in a 6-minute period near the end of the half. UCF trailed 36-29 as the two squads headed into the locker-room at the half. Davis led the way for the Knights in scoring with 12 points and five rebounds. Morris would lead the scoring for the Shockers with nine points, while forward Rashard Kelly led on the boards with seven.
Davis would start out hot in the 2nd half with a jumper and a triple to cut the deficit to just two. The Knights continued to chip away at the lead. A steal and an emphatic dunk from Davis with 18:22 left on the clock would make it 40-38 UCF, capping off a 9-2 run to start the 2nd half.
Things slowed down over the next ten minutes with both teams trading leads. The Shockers wouldn’t hit their first triple of the 2nd half until there was just 8:33 left to play. This opened up a 12-4 run by WSU to give them a 64-55 lead with just 4:17 on the clock.
UCF guard BJ Taylor put an end to that run with a triple to cut the deficit to six. Then three minutes later it was a one-point lead as Davis hit a triple to cap off the Knights 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to 1 point. A layup from Morris extended the Shockers lead to three at 66-63. Then as time was expiring, UCF and Wichita State were battling for a loose ball when Davis snagged it and threw up a shot. It hit off the backboard and when in with the clock showing .7 seconds left, tying it up.
This would send the game into overtime, where things slowed way down. Neither team made a basket until Morris hit a layup with 2:27 left to play. UCF guard Dayon Griffin answered with a triple to give the Knights the lead. Six points unanswered would follow suit for the Shockers as they extended their lead to 74-69 with just 20 seconds left to play. During the run, Davis would miss two free throws that could have either tied the game back up, or gave the Knights the lead.
The 5-point deficit with under 20 seconds to play would be too much for the Knights to overcome as WSU hit their free throws down the stretch, and UCF was only able to make 1 of 4 from the field in the final minute of the game.
Davis ended the game with a career high 31 point and finished one rebound off his career high with 14. Morris led the Shockers with 19 points, including the game winning baskets down the stretch.
UCF wraps up their regular season on Sunday at home against Tulane in a 4:30 PM EST Tipoff. Wichita State will face Cincinnati in a de-facto regular season American Athletic Conference Championship game, where the winner will take the crown Sunday at Noon on CBS.
Starting fast, the Shockers knocked down two triples right out of the gate. The Knights were able to calm things down after that as they kept tight with Wichita State. As we reached the under 16 minute timeout, WSU lead UCF 11-10.
Out of the break the Knights offense exploded, going on a 12-0 run headed by two triples from Davis. As they reached the Under 12 minute timeout, the Knights were the ones doing the shocking, leading 22-11. The run would be put to an end by WSU forward Markis McDuffie as his hit a layup and added a basket from a foul on the play. That was the start of an 8-0 run that had the Shockers trailing just 22-19 as UCF took a timeout with 9:34 left in the 1st half.
As the triple theme of the night continued, a triple from UCF guard Ceaser DeJesus ended the Shockers program. The Shockers would regain the lead with 5:27 left in the half as center Shaquille Morris hit a layup to make it 25-24. In the first 10 minutes of the game, UCF had out rebounded the Shockers 10-3, while in the final 10 minutes WSU out rebounded the Knights 14– 6.
This showed up clearly on the scoreboard as the Shockers went on a 15-1 run on the Knights in a 6-minute period near the end of the half. UCF trailed 36-29 as the two squads headed into the locker-room at the half. Davis led the way for the Knights in scoring with 12 points and five rebounds. Morris would lead the scoring for the Shockers with nine points, while forward Rashard Kelly led on the boards with seven.
Davis would start out hot in the 2nd half with a jumper and a triple to cut the deficit to just two. The Knights continued to chip away at the lead. A steal and an emphatic dunk from Davis with 18:22 left on the clock would make it 40-38 UCF, capping off a 9-2 run to start the 2nd half.
Things slowed down over the next ten minutes with both teams trading leads. The Shockers wouldn’t hit their first triple of the 2nd half until there was just 8:33 left to play. This opened up a 12-4 run by WSU to give them a 64-55 lead with just 4:17 on the clock.
UCF guard BJ Taylor put an end to that run with a triple to cut the deficit to six. Then three minutes later it was a one-point lead as Davis hit a triple to cap off the Knights 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to 1 point. A layup from Morris extended the Shockers lead to three at 66-63. Then as time was expiring, UCF and Wichita State were battling for a loose ball when Davis snagged it and threw up a shot. It hit off the backboard and when in with the clock showing .7 seconds left, tying it up.
This would send the game into overtime, where things slowed way down. Neither team made a basket until Morris hit a layup with 2:27 left to play. UCF guard Dayon Griffin answered with a triple to give the Knights the lead. Six points unanswered would follow suit for the Shockers as they extended their lead to 74-69 with just 20 seconds left to play. During the run, Davis would miss two free throws that could have either tied the game back up, or gave the Knights the lead.
The 5-point deficit with under 20 seconds to play would be too much for the Knights to overcome as WSU hit their free throws down the stretch, and UCF was only able to make 1 of 4 from the field in the final minute of the game.
Davis ended the game with a career high 31 point and finished one rebound off his career high with 14. Morris led the Shockers with 19 points, including the game winning baskets down the stretch.
UCF wraps up their regular season on Sunday at home against Tulane in a 4:30 PM EST Tipoff. Wichita State will face Cincinnati in a de-facto regular season American Athletic Conference Championship game, where the winner will take the crown Sunday at Noon on CBS.