Written by Adrian Beecher
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/9/9/9399298/23633337-10214697601538318-942343959-o_orig.jpg)
Orlando, FL - Double-double’s from AJ Davis and Chad Brown helped lead the Knights to a 68-65 squeaker win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday night. UCF was without starters BJ Taylor and Tacko Fall, which showed throughout the game as the Knights were unable to pull away from the Bulldogs for most of the night.
UCF scored the first two baskets of the game before Gardner-Webb was able to get on the board. The Bulldogs Davis Efianayi scored their first 6 points of the game, making it a tie game at 6 as they entered the first media timeout.
Gardner-Webb took their first lead of the night on a layup from Brandon Miller with 14:41 left in the first half. After the Bulldogs got out to a 10-6 lead, the Knight’s struck back with and 8-0 run to regain the lead at 14-10 as a dunk from Chad Brown capped the run.
Much of the rest of the half was a back and forth affair between both side and with 6:07 left to play in the half the game was all knotted up at 19. At the half, UCF had a three point advantage over the Bulldogs after a triple from Chance McSpadden made it 31-28.
Ceasar DeJesus led the scoring for the Knights with 8 points, while on the other side of the ball it was DJ Laster leading the way for the three-point with 10 points. UCF struggled from the field, shooting just 33.3% from the field, however luckily for them, that was the same percentage as Gardner-Webb.
The Bulldogs drew first blood to open the second half with a layup from DJ Laster. UCF would answer with a layup from Terrell Allen, which made it 33-30 with just under a minute and a half expired in the 2nd. Continuing with the first half trend, the 2nd was also a back and forth affair early on in the 2nd half. Gardner-Webb would take their first lead of the game with 14:34 left in regulation as Efianayi hit a triple to make it 39-37.
UCF would tie the game up at 45 after a layup and an and one from Dayon Griffin with 11:36 left to play. This was the start of a 7-0 run which made it 49-45 Knights, as the Bulldogs took a timeout with 10:21 to try to slow down UCF’s momentum. It worked momentarily, as Jamaal Robateau hot a triple to end the run making it 50-48, with UCF still on top.
The air slowly started to leave the Bulldogs hopes of an upset over the Knights after UCF went on a 10-0 run. This gave the Knights a 12-point point lead as they looked to take full control of the game with just 6:32 left to play.
Back to back buckets for the Bulldogs coming from DJ Laster and Efianayi would cut the deficit to just 8 points with 5:38 left to play. However, the Knights quickly were able to push their lead back to double digits, with six 3:42 left to play it was 63-52.
Much to the dismay of the home fans at CFE Arena, the Bulldogs were not going quietly. Consecutive triples for Gardner-Webb coming from Laster and Efianayi cut the Knights lead to just 5 points with 1:53 left to play. After a single Knights free throw pushed it back to 6, a layup from Liam O’Reilly cut it to 4 points.
The fight in the Bulldogs would not dwindle as they took advantage of a few late missed free throws, and UCF continued to turn the ball over late. In the final four minutes, UCF was 6 of 9 from the line and turned the ball over four times. This allowed Gardner-Webb to cut the lead to just 1 point with only 34 seconds left in the game as Liam O'Reilly hit a triple.
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins attested the comeback to the Bulldogs effort and not a letup from the Knights, " I give Gardner-Webb credit; they hit some tough shots, some tough threes and that three-ball really does change the game." Dawkins then continued with full explanation. "All the sudden, your up 12 or your up 10, a team hits 2 or 3 threes, all of the sudden its a 2 point game or three-point game, all of the sudden it's a one possession that fast on you. You know, I give Gardner-Webb credit more so than us letting up. They made tough shots and thats what good teams and good players do."
The Bulldogs would then have a chance to take the lead with UCF turning the ball over after the lead was cut to one. O’Reilly was unable to know down a poor percentage triple. Then UCF’s Chance McSpadden would hit two free throws from the line to extend the Knights lead to three with just 10 seconds left. Gardner-Webb was unable to get in a desperation triple as UCF escaped with the win.
The Knights will now turn their focus to a Saturday matchup against William & Mary in Orlando before they head to Disney to play in the Advocare Invitational on Thanksgiving and through Thanksgiving weekend.
UCF scored the first two baskets of the game before Gardner-Webb was able to get on the board. The Bulldogs Davis Efianayi scored their first 6 points of the game, making it a tie game at 6 as they entered the first media timeout.
Gardner-Webb took their first lead of the night on a layup from Brandon Miller with 14:41 left in the first half. After the Bulldogs got out to a 10-6 lead, the Knight’s struck back with and 8-0 run to regain the lead at 14-10 as a dunk from Chad Brown capped the run.
Much of the rest of the half was a back and forth affair between both side and with 6:07 left to play in the half the game was all knotted up at 19. At the half, UCF had a three point advantage over the Bulldogs after a triple from Chance McSpadden made it 31-28.
Ceasar DeJesus led the scoring for the Knights with 8 points, while on the other side of the ball it was DJ Laster leading the way for the three-point with 10 points. UCF struggled from the field, shooting just 33.3% from the field, however luckily for them, that was the same percentage as Gardner-Webb.
The Bulldogs drew first blood to open the second half with a layup from DJ Laster. UCF would answer with a layup from Terrell Allen, which made it 33-30 with just under a minute and a half expired in the 2nd. Continuing with the first half trend, the 2nd was also a back and forth affair early on in the 2nd half. Gardner-Webb would take their first lead of the game with 14:34 left in regulation as Efianayi hit a triple to make it 39-37.
UCF would tie the game up at 45 after a layup and an and one from Dayon Griffin with 11:36 left to play. This was the start of a 7-0 run which made it 49-45 Knights, as the Bulldogs took a timeout with 10:21 to try to slow down UCF’s momentum. It worked momentarily, as Jamaal Robateau hot a triple to end the run making it 50-48, with UCF still on top.
The air slowly started to leave the Bulldogs hopes of an upset over the Knights after UCF went on a 10-0 run. This gave the Knights a 12-point point lead as they looked to take full control of the game with just 6:32 left to play.
Back to back buckets for the Bulldogs coming from DJ Laster and Efianayi would cut the deficit to just 8 points with 5:38 left to play. However, the Knights quickly were able to push their lead back to double digits, with six 3:42 left to play it was 63-52.
Much to the dismay of the home fans at CFE Arena, the Bulldogs were not going quietly. Consecutive triples for Gardner-Webb coming from Laster and Efianayi cut the Knights lead to just 5 points with 1:53 left to play. After a single Knights free throw pushed it back to 6, a layup from Liam O’Reilly cut it to 4 points.
The fight in the Bulldogs would not dwindle as they took advantage of a few late missed free throws, and UCF continued to turn the ball over late. In the final four minutes, UCF was 6 of 9 from the line and turned the ball over four times. This allowed Gardner-Webb to cut the lead to just 1 point with only 34 seconds left in the game as Liam O'Reilly hit a triple.
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins attested the comeback to the Bulldogs effort and not a letup from the Knights, " I give Gardner-Webb credit; they hit some tough shots, some tough threes and that three-ball really does change the game." Dawkins then continued with full explanation. "All the sudden, your up 12 or your up 10, a team hits 2 or 3 threes, all of the sudden its a 2 point game or three-point game, all of the sudden it's a one possession that fast on you. You know, I give Gardner-Webb credit more so than us letting up. They made tough shots and thats what good teams and good players do."
The Bulldogs would then have a chance to take the lead with UCF turning the ball over after the lead was cut to one. O’Reilly was unable to know down a poor percentage triple. Then UCF’s Chance McSpadden would hit two free throws from the line to extend the Knights lead to three with just 10 seconds left. Gardner-Webb was unable to get in a desperation triple as UCF escaped with the win.
The Knights will now turn their focus to a Saturday matchup against William & Mary in Orlando before they head to Disney to play in the Advocare Invitational on Thanksgiving and through Thanksgiving weekend.