UCF Loses Third Straight in 74-67 Loss to West Virginia

UCF (17-7, 6-6) squandered a double-digit second half lead, losing 74-67 to West Virginia (16-9, 7-5 Big 12) Saturday night. 

The loss extended UCF's losing streak to three - the longest of the season. 

Sixth-year forward Devan Cambridge started his third game of the year after senior forward Jamichael Stillwell was a late scratch. According to the Fox Sports broadcast, Stillwell injured his ankle in practice earlier this week.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, combining for 13 turnovers in the first half alone. Both teams also shot under 40% from the field and a combined 4-22 from 3-point range.

This style of play favors the Mountaineers, who give up the second-least points per game to their opponents (63.6) in the Big 12 and eighth-least in the nation. They struggle on the other side of the floor, ranking dead-last in scoring offense with just 70 points per contest. 

Fifth-year point guard Themus Fulks' recent struggle continued in the first ten minutes against West Virginia, as he turned the ball over four times in that short span. However, Fulks bounced back with five assists, including back-to-back dishes to sophomore center John Bol.

Bol was a defensive force in the first half, rejecting three shots and breaking up multiple entry passes into the paint. He also added six points and three rebounds to help UCF maintain a slim 29-28 lead at halftime.

The Knights' offense woke up in the second half, getting a quick 14 points from Fulks, senior guard Riley Kugel and junior forward Jordan Burks. UCF capped off the 16 point flurry with an emphatic and-one stick back from Cambridge, taking a 46-35 lead with just over 14 minutes to play.

Senior West Virginia guard Jasper Floyd helped the Mountaineers claw back, hitting two threes late in the shot clock to counter the Knights' early run. West Virginia tied the game at 59 with just over five minutes to play. 

Floyd and the Mountaineers' leading scorer, senior point guard Honor Huff, nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to seal the game for West Virginia. 

This game could prove to be costly for the Knights when it comes to March Madness and seeding, as the Mountaineers are currently just outside the field of 68. For now, UCF still projects as an eight or nine seed on most predictors, but each win going forward is crucial. 

The Knights will look to bounce back Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. against TCU.