A last-second foul seals a heartbreaking loss, but a star's return and defensive lapses define this close contest.
UCF dropped a close affair Saturday evening, falling 87-86 against Baylor. A questionable foul call placed senior Baylor guard Obi Agbim at the free-throw line, where he converted with just one second to play.
The Knights comeback effort fell short after having to claw back from a double-digit halftime deficit, but there were some silver linings for head coach Johnny Dawkins and his squad.
Riley Kugel's Emphatic Return
UCF's top scorer, senior guard Riley Kugel, made a big impact in his first game back from an ankle injury. Kugel missed the Knights' road trip, but returned home with a team-high 26 point performance while adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Kugel provides a level of scoring and shot creation that can't be replicated by many players on UCF. Having him rolling going into postseason play is crucial for a Knights team currently on the inside of the March Madness bubble.
Poor First-Half Defense
After holding No. 19 Brigham Young University (BYU) to just 28 first half points, the Knights surrendered a whopping 56 to Baylor, putting themselves in a 56-42 deficit at the break. Projected first round pick Cameron Carr, Baylor's leading scorer, gave UCF fits, pouring in 20 first-half points and providing instant offense for the Bears.
In a media availability earlier this week, Dawkins spoke on playing Baylor straight up, rather than keying in on specific players.
"They have several young players that I've been watching that are really, really talented, that are capable of hurting us, but I don't want to single any players out because they have a really good team," Dawkins said. "They have a number of guys that are capable of hurting us, and we need to be prepared for all of them."
However, Carr was a one-man wrecking ball, getting whatever he wants offensively. The Knights did a better job slowing him down in the second half, holding Carr to just six points, but it wasn't enough in the end.
The Knights will have one more opportunity to defend home court before Big 12 Tournament play begins. UCF will look to exact vengeance against an Oklahoma State squad that got the better of the Knights earlier this season and send the senior out with a win.
UCF tips off against the Cowboys at 7:00 p.m. this Tuesday.
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