UCF Athletic Communications
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF men’s basketball closes out a two-game road swing Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET against Memphis on ESPNU. The Knights (11-12, 5-7 AAC) look to get back on track after dropping their last three contests. The Tigers (14-11, 5-7 AAC) are also searching for a win after losing their last two games.
Wednesday’s game will cap off the season series between the two American Athletic Conference foes. Memphis won the first meeting 97-86 at CFE Arena back on Jan. 26. The Tigers hold a 19-1 all-time advantage in the all-time series.
A.J. Davis has led the Knights all season, averaging 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is the only player in The American averaging at least 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Davis is also the only player in the league ranking top 20 in points (16th), rebounds (16th) and assists (10th).
LAST TIME OUT
- UCF dropped its third consecutive game in Houston, 82-58, which snapped a three-game winning streak against the Cougars.
- Foul trouble put the Knights behind the ball in the first half with A.J. Davis playing just five minutes, garnering three fouls during that span.
- Tanksley Efianayi and Shaheed Davis also picked up a pair of fouls each, forcing the Knights to play big with Staphon Blair at the four with Justin McBride and Tacko Fall at the five.
- In the second half, UCF didn’t score for the first 4 minutes, 14 seconds, which allowed the Coogs to expand their lead to 20 points.
- Matt Williams led a late game run for the Knights, scoring all 13 of his points in the final six minutes of regulation.
- Tacko Fall tallied three blocks, moving him to 10th on UCF’s single-season blocks list.
THE SERIES
- Memphis has a strong hold on the all-time series at 19-1.
- The Tigers have won nine consecutive games in the series and swept the series each of the last three seasons.
- The Knights lone win came on Jan. 18, 2012 at CFE Arena, 68-67.
A.J. “DO IT ALL” DAVIS
- A.J. Davis is the only player in the American Athletic Conference to rank top 20 in The American in points (16th), rebounds (16th) and assists (10th).
- The Tennessee transfer is the only player in the league averaging over 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.
- Davis currently ranks 15th in The American in points per game during league games, posting 13.1 points per clip.
FROM DOWNTOWN
- Matt Williams ranks fifth in the conference in three-point percentage during league games (42.7), while the junior sits 10th on the year with 39.3 percent through all games.
- Williams has made a three pointer in 15 consecutive games and is averaging 2.7 made three pointers in league games.
- The Orlando native has 141 career three pointers, which is one from tying Gary Johnson (142, 2003-05) from 10th on UCF’s all-time list.
INJURY WOES
- Sophomore B.J. Taylor will sit out and redshirt the 2015-16 season, due to a lower leg injury he suffered during practice in October. Taylor led the Knights in scoring last season with 12.8 points, while also being The American’s top scoring freshman and named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
- Adonys Henriquez was ruled out with a mild MCL sprain and a bone contusion on Feb. 4, and the sophomore is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. The Orlando native is averaging 10.1 points on the season.
- With Taylor and Henriquez sidelined, UCF is missing its top two scorers from last season. The duo combined for 23.6 points last season as freshmen.
- The Knights are now starting five players that didn’t not start on a regular basis last season with Walker and McBride combining for just 13 starts.
- UCF’s active roster scored only 34.2 percent of the Knights’ points last season and played just 35.6 percent of the minutes.
- Staphon Blair is the only active player for the Knights that was a top-five scorer for them last season.
FALL FACTOR
- Fall currently ranks 34th in the nation in blocks per game with 2.13 and third among all freshmen (Kassoum Yakwe, St. John’s – 2.80; Cameron Olive, Nevada – 2.50).
- The Senegal native has recorded at least three blocks in four of the last five games.
- His 49 blocks currently rank second for a freshman in UCF history behind Anthony Williams’ 53 blocks during the 2004-05 season.
- Fall is one block from tying Ken Leeks (1991-92) for ninth in UCF history for most blocks in a single season with 50. John Friday has the school record at 74 (1986-87).
- Fall was named The American Rookie of the Week on Dec. 7 after averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 boards and three blocks in the Knights’ wins over Stetson and Illinois-Chicago.
NEW ROLE FOR WALKER
- Daiquan Walker has taken on the point guard role with B.J. Taylor sidelined after previously playing shooting guard his last three years. Walker has balanced his time between scorer and distributor, averaging eight points and 3.9 assists per game, which ranks seventh in the league.
- The senior tallied a career-high and UCF season-high 33 points in the road win over Tulane, which are the most for a UCF player on the road since Jan. 12, 2013, when Keith Clanton recorded 36 at East Carolina.
- The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native was named to the league’s Honor Roll on Feb. 8 for averaging 19.5 points, five assists and four rebounds during a 1-1 week for UCF.
MCBRIDE PLAYING BIG
- Justin McBride has been playing the best ball of his career since entering league action, averaging 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
- The 6-foot-10, 300-pound center leads the conference in field goal percentage during league play, shooting 58.4 percent from the floor.
- On Jan. 11, McBride was named to the AAC Honor Roll after averaging 15 points and seven boards in a 101 week for the Knights.
WHEN 85 ISN’T ENOUGH
- The Knights have lost three games this season in regulation when they have scored 85 or more points.
- The last time UCF had a loss when scoring 85 or more in regulation as Jan. 3, 2007, at Colorado (96-87).
- Prior to this season, the Knights had only lost three times in regulation when scoring 85 or more points (Jan. 3, 2007 at Colorado; Feb. 22, 2001 vs. Georgia State; Jan. 22, 2000 vs. Stetson).
- The last season UCF lost three games in regulation when posting 85 or more points was 1990-91 (three).
HANDS UP!
- UCF ranks seventh in the nation in fewest personal fouls per game at 15.6.
- The Knights have committed 15 or fewer fouls in 13 games this season, charting a season-low seven fouls against UNC Greensboro.
MAKING THE EASY ONES
- Currently, the Black & Gold have six players shooting over 70 percent from the line with Chance McSpadden leading the team with 81.1 percent.
- A.J. Davis is the Knights’ most frequent visitor of the free-throw line, and he is shooting 77.3 percent (102-of-132).
- UCF has proven to be very clutch at the line, shooting 74.9 percent with under five minutes remaining in regulation/overtime and 77.5 percent in the final two minutes.
SIZE MATTERS
- UCF has the seventh biggest roster in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with an average height of 6-6.78. Florida State holds the top spot with an average height of 6-7.53.
- The Knights are also one of seven programs to lead the NCAA with having six players 6-9 or taller on their roster. Others with six are: Duke, Louisville, Maryland, San Diego State, UCLA and Oregon State.
STUFF-ON BLAIR
- Staphon Blair has 109 career blocks, which ranks fourth in UCF history. He tallied his 107th block against East Carolina (1/16) to surpass Issac McKinnon (106, 1979-83) for fourth in school history.
- The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native is 18 blocks away from matching Paul Reed (2001-02) for third in Knights’ history.
- Keith Clanton (2009-13) holds the UCF career blocks record with 227.
#ChargeOn
Wednesday’s game will cap off the season series between the two American Athletic Conference foes. Memphis won the first meeting 97-86 at CFE Arena back on Jan. 26. The Tigers hold a 19-1 all-time advantage in the all-time series.
A.J. Davis has led the Knights all season, averaging 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is the only player in The American averaging at least 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Davis is also the only player in the league ranking top 20 in points (16th), rebounds (16th) and assists (10th).
LAST TIME OUT
- UCF dropped its third consecutive game in Houston, 82-58, which snapped a three-game winning streak against the Cougars.
- Foul trouble put the Knights behind the ball in the first half with A.J. Davis playing just five minutes, garnering three fouls during that span.
- Tanksley Efianayi and Shaheed Davis also picked up a pair of fouls each, forcing the Knights to play big with Staphon Blair at the four with Justin McBride and Tacko Fall at the five.
- In the second half, UCF didn’t score for the first 4 minutes, 14 seconds, which allowed the Coogs to expand their lead to 20 points.
- Matt Williams led a late game run for the Knights, scoring all 13 of his points in the final six minutes of regulation.
- Tacko Fall tallied three blocks, moving him to 10th on UCF’s single-season blocks list.
THE SERIES
- Memphis has a strong hold on the all-time series at 19-1.
- The Tigers have won nine consecutive games in the series and swept the series each of the last three seasons.
- The Knights lone win came on Jan. 18, 2012 at CFE Arena, 68-67.
A.J. “DO IT ALL” DAVIS
- A.J. Davis is the only player in the American Athletic Conference to rank top 20 in The American in points (16th), rebounds (16th) and assists (10th).
- The Tennessee transfer is the only player in the league averaging over 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.
- Davis currently ranks 15th in The American in points per game during league games, posting 13.1 points per clip.
FROM DOWNTOWN
- Matt Williams ranks fifth in the conference in three-point percentage during league games (42.7), while the junior sits 10th on the year with 39.3 percent through all games.
- Williams has made a three pointer in 15 consecutive games and is averaging 2.7 made three pointers in league games.
- The Orlando native has 141 career three pointers, which is one from tying Gary Johnson (142, 2003-05) from 10th on UCF’s all-time list.
INJURY WOES
- Sophomore B.J. Taylor will sit out and redshirt the 2015-16 season, due to a lower leg injury he suffered during practice in October. Taylor led the Knights in scoring last season with 12.8 points, while also being The American’s top scoring freshman and named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
- Adonys Henriquez was ruled out with a mild MCL sprain and a bone contusion on Feb. 4, and the sophomore is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. The Orlando native is averaging 10.1 points on the season.
- With Taylor and Henriquez sidelined, UCF is missing its top two scorers from last season. The duo combined for 23.6 points last season as freshmen.
- The Knights are now starting five players that didn’t not start on a regular basis last season with Walker and McBride combining for just 13 starts.
- UCF’s active roster scored only 34.2 percent of the Knights’ points last season and played just 35.6 percent of the minutes.
- Staphon Blair is the only active player for the Knights that was a top-five scorer for them last season.
FALL FACTOR
- Fall currently ranks 34th in the nation in blocks per game with 2.13 and third among all freshmen (Kassoum Yakwe, St. John’s – 2.80; Cameron Olive, Nevada – 2.50).
- The Senegal native has recorded at least three blocks in four of the last five games.
- His 49 blocks currently rank second for a freshman in UCF history behind Anthony Williams’ 53 blocks during the 2004-05 season.
- Fall is one block from tying Ken Leeks (1991-92) for ninth in UCF history for most blocks in a single season with 50. John Friday has the school record at 74 (1986-87).
- Fall was named The American Rookie of the Week on Dec. 7 after averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 boards and three blocks in the Knights’ wins over Stetson and Illinois-Chicago.
NEW ROLE FOR WALKER
- Daiquan Walker has taken on the point guard role with B.J. Taylor sidelined after previously playing shooting guard his last three years. Walker has balanced his time between scorer and distributor, averaging eight points and 3.9 assists per game, which ranks seventh in the league.
- The senior tallied a career-high and UCF season-high 33 points in the road win over Tulane, which are the most for a UCF player on the road since Jan. 12, 2013, when Keith Clanton recorded 36 at East Carolina.
- The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native was named to the league’s Honor Roll on Feb. 8 for averaging 19.5 points, five assists and four rebounds during a 1-1 week for UCF.
MCBRIDE PLAYING BIG
- Justin McBride has been playing the best ball of his career since entering league action, averaging 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.
- The 6-foot-10, 300-pound center leads the conference in field goal percentage during league play, shooting 58.4 percent from the floor.
- On Jan. 11, McBride was named to the AAC Honor Roll after averaging 15 points and seven boards in a 101 week for the Knights.
WHEN 85 ISN’T ENOUGH
- The Knights have lost three games this season in regulation when they have scored 85 or more points.
- The last time UCF had a loss when scoring 85 or more in regulation as Jan. 3, 2007, at Colorado (96-87).
- Prior to this season, the Knights had only lost three times in regulation when scoring 85 or more points (Jan. 3, 2007 at Colorado; Feb. 22, 2001 vs. Georgia State; Jan. 22, 2000 vs. Stetson).
- The last season UCF lost three games in regulation when posting 85 or more points was 1990-91 (three).
HANDS UP!
- UCF ranks seventh in the nation in fewest personal fouls per game at 15.6.
- The Knights have committed 15 or fewer fouls in 13 games this season, charting a season-low seven fouls against UNC Greensboro.
MAKING THE EASY ONES
- Currently, the Black & Gold have six players shooting over 70 percent from the line with Chance McSpadden leading the team with 81.1 percent.
- A.J. Davis is the Knights’ most frequent visitor of the free-throw line, and he is shooting 77.3 percent (102-of-132).
- UCF has proven to be very clutch at the line, shooting 74.9 percent with under five minutes remaining in regulation/overtime and 77.5 percent in the final two minutes.
SIZE MATTERS
- UCF has the seventh biggest roster in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with an average height of 6-6.78. Florida State holds the top spot with an average height of 6-7.53.
- The Knights are also one of seven programs to lead the NCAA with having six players 6-9 or taller on their roster. Others with six are: Duke, Louisville, Maryland, San Diego State, UCLA and Oregon State.
STUFF-ON BLAIR
- Staphon Blair has 109 career blocks, which ranks fourth in UCF history. He tallied his 107th block against East Carolina (1/16) to surpass Issac McKinnon (106, 1979-83) for fourth in school history.
- The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native is 18 blocks away from matching Paul Reed (2001-02) for third in Knights’ history.
- Keith Clanton (2009-13) holds the UCF career blocks record with 227.
#ChargeOn