By: Jetta Rose Posted 10:15pm Sunday, Feb. 9
Orlando, FL- As the UCF Knights prepared to face the UCONN Huskies at the CFE Arena; they were on a mission to play hard. With this being their second time playing the Huskies in this season, the lone victory UCF had against UCONN was in 2011 with a 68-63 win.
In the first half UCONN led the game with a 17-point lead at 41-24 holding on to a 50% shooting average. UCF put up a strong fight with a shooting average of just over 30%. With each team pushing 8 fouls in the first half, UCONN's lead scorer Kromah, Lasan brought in 11 points and UCF's superstar Sykes, Isaiah brought in 10 points for his team.
With the lead changed nine times in the first half we watched as UCF started the second half with leading scorer Sykes, Isaiah taking on two personal fouls in the first five minutes. With 12 and a half minutes on the clock UCONN leads by 15 and giving the Knights a run for their money when Knights Sykes, Isaiah picked up his fourth personal in the game.
UCF Haney, Steven try's to steal a slam-dunk but the Huskies Giffey, Niels doesn't let that happen by fouling the knights with just less than 12 minutes on the clock. UCF took their first timeout of the second half with the Huskies keeping the Knights on their toes with constant turn arounds by leading scorer Kromah, Lasan.
With a little over eight minutes on the clock UCF only trailed by 13 and with the ball they scored again with a strong layup by McBride, Justin assisted by Williams, Matthew. UCF making a strong comeback during the second half only trailing 11 with just over seven and a half minutes on the clock. UCF made some strong shots, especially by McBride, Justin scoring a dunk on UCONN just over the five-minute mark left in the second half.
With four minutes left on the clock the Huskies led the game 65-51 with Napier, Shabazz and Kromah, Lasan leading with points for the second half. The Knights Sykes, Isaiah and McBride, Justin we're keeping the score up for the UCF as the lead scorers for the second half with 15 shots each. With UCF and UCONN sharing a close percentage of scoring averages with just under four minutes it was a close game.
UCONN came out with a win 75-55 finally being able to pull a strong lead over on UCF in the final few minutes for the win. With McBride, Justin taking his first shots in this game after only being back four weeks after his multiple months of recovery from knee surgery he held his own to prove he is meant to be a leading Knights Baller. McBride said, "It was great being back out there with the trust of my coach and teammates". After undergoing the stress and turmoil of being on the sidelines McBride "would have giving up if it wasn’t for his teammates" he said. UCF Head Coach Donnie Jones is behind his team and McBride one hundred percent. "No one has been through more that he has" Jones referring to McBride. Jones also said, "It was a bright spot tonight for McBride, he needed the confidence he got in tonight’s game".
UCF will travel to FedEx Forum in the heart of Memphis Tennessee to take on the Tigers on Wednesday Feb. 9 at 9pm. UCONN will head back home to Harry A. Gampel Pavilion to face South Florida this Wednesday at 7pm.
In the first half UCONN led the game with a 17-point lead at 41-24 holding on to a 50% shooting average. UCF put up a strong fight with a shooting average of just over 30%. With each team pushing 8 fouls in the first half, UCONN's lead scorer Kromah, Lasan brought in 11 points and UCF's superstar Sykes, Isaiah brought in 10 points for his team.
With the lead changed nine times in the first half we watched as UCF started the second half with leading scorer Sykes, Isaiah taking on two personal fouls in the first five minutes. With 12 and a half minutes on the clock UCONN leads by 15 and giving the Knights a run for their money when Knights Sykes, Isaiah picked up his fourth personal in the game.
UCF Haney, Steven try's to steal a slam-dunk but the Huskies Giffey, Niels doesn't let that happen by fouling the knights with just less than 12 minutes on the clock. UCF took their first timeout of the second half with the Huskies keeping the Knights on their toes with constant turn arounds by leading scorer Kromah, Lasan.
With a little over eight minutes on the clock UCF only trailed by 13 and with the ball they scored again with a strong layup by McBride, Justin assisted by Williams, Matthew. UCF making a strong comeback during the second half only trailing 11 with just over seven and a half minutes on the clock. UCF made some strong shots, especially by McBride, Justin scoring a dunk on UCONN just over the five-minute mark left in the second half.
With four minutes left on the clock the Huskies led the game 65-51 with Napier, Shabazz and Kromah, Lasan leading with points for the second half. The Knights Sykes, Isaiah and McBride, Justin we're keeping the score up for the UCF as the lead scorers for the second half with 15 shots each. With UCF and UCONN sharing a close percentage of scoring averages with just under four minutes it was a close game.
UCONN came out with a win 75-55 finally being able to pull a strong lead over on UCF in the final few minutes for the win. With McBride, Justin taking his first shots in this game after only being back four weeks after his multiple months of recovery from knee surgery he held his own to prove he is meant to be a leading Knights Baller. McBride said, "It was great being back out there with the trust of my coach and teammates". After undergoing the stress and turmoil of being on the sidelines McBride "would have giving up if it wasn’t for his teammates" he said. UCF Head Coach Donnie Jones is behind his team and McBride one hundred percent. "No one has been through more that he has" Jones referring to McBride. Jones also said, "It was a bright spot tonight for McBride, he needed the confidence he got in tonight’s game".
UCF will travel to FedEx Forum in the heart of Memphis Tennessee to take on the Tigers on Wednesday Feb. 9 at 9pm. UCONN will head back home to Harry A. Gampel Pavilion to face South Florida this Wednesday at 7pm.