Knights secure a thrilling 81-75 upset over No. 17 Kansas, fueled by clutch shots and a raucous home crowd.
Although UCF students were still on Winter Break, Addition Financial Arena was packed full of Knights fans Saturday afternoon as UCF (12-1, 1-0 Big 12) upset the No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks (10-4, 0-1 Big 12) 81-75.
Senior guard Riley Kugel caught fire in the first game conference play, netting a team-high 19 points and looking aggressive right out of the gates. Kugel nailed his first 3-point attempt early in the game, then used his pump fakes and ball handling to find spots in the mid-range and attack the paint.
Late in the second half, with just under two minutes to play, Kugel attacked left and snuck in a score with his inside hand before senior guard Melvin Council Jr. responded with an acrobatic finish of his own.
On the following UCF possession, Kugel drove the middle of Kansas' defense kicking out to senior guard Themus Fulks who swung it once more to sharpshooting junior forward Jordan Burks in the left corner. Burks confidently rose up and swished the go-ahead three.
After a UCF stop and a Fulks free-throw, the Knights led 76-72. The Jayhawks answered with a crafty move from senior guard Tre White, who was able to get Kugel out of position and draw a foul on his three-pointer. White made all three free throws to cut the lead to one.
After a UCF timeout, the Knights executed their press break to perfection, breaking a trap and kicking it ahead to Kugel up the left wing. Kugel iced the game with an and-one finish, resulting in a court-storming win for UCF.
Freshman phenom guard Darryn Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring/lower leg injury for Kansas and looked the part of a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Peterson exploded in the first half for 23 points, doing much of his damage early on pull-up threes and mid range jumpers.
After the break, Peterson saw limited minutes, either due to a minutes restriction or continued cramping. He finished the game with 26 points and did not return in the final 10:55 of the game.
Council Jr. made a huge impact in Peterson's absence, scoring 20 second-half points after a scoreless first period. To begin the second half, Council Jr. scored twelve in a row for the Jayhawks, helping keep them within reach. Peterson's lone score came after Council Jr.'s flurry to give Kansas a 59-58 lead. UCF answered with a 7-0 run courtesy of Burks and sixth-year senior Devan Cambridge and did not trail again.
After the statement win, UCF is now on the cusp of earning an AP Top 25 ranking, which would be its first since joining the Big 12.
The Knights can savor the statement win, but their attention quickly shifts to Oklahoma State, with their next matchup awaiting Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. in Stillwater, OK. UCF will look to continue its now 11-game win streak and stay atop the Big 12.