Fulks and Burks explode for 48 points. UCF's dynamic offense and stellar ball movement overwhelm No. 19 Brigham Young in a historic upset victory.
The UCF Knights (20-7, 9-6 Big 12) left the Marriott Center with additional milestones added to their resume as they chase a bid to the NCAA Tournament after completing a blowout upset over No. 19 Brigham Young (20-8, 8-7 Big 12).
UCF defeated BYU, 97-84, Tuesday night, and it became its third upset victory of the season and cemented back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the Knights.
The team ends a two-game road trip in Utah undefeated, and returns home to host Baylor (14-14, 4-11 Big 12) on Saturday. Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday night's historic victory.
THEMUS FULKS AND JORDAN BURKS COMBINE FOR 48 POINTS
The duo both dropped 24 points — Fulks on 10-for-21 shooting and Burks on 9-for-12 shooting. Fulks added 11 assists to his performance, which broke the single-season record in assists for the Knights.
"I play with really good teammates," Fulks said. "I play with a lot of pros. All these other teams, you know, they're getting all these accolades. Talking about they play with the top picks, but I play with a lot of pros."
Burks added 12 rebounds to his stat sheet, showcasing the toughness needed to be physical in the paint and compete for extra possessions.
"That's my job," Burks said. "Like my coach always tells me, I can do more than just score. So I got to hunt EGBs, and that's what we got to do tonight."
UCF SHARES THE WEALTH, OVERWHELMING BYU WITH BALL MOVEMENT
The Knights had 25 assists to the Cougars' 11, and the ball movement displayed highlights of how the team plays for each other. Fulks' 11 assists keep his teammates involved and put them in positions to shift the defense and score.
"I thought Themus did a great job of finding him and giving him some good opportunities where he can be really effective," Coach Johnny Dawkins said.
Forward Jamichael Stillwell also showcased his versatility as a passer, adding six assists.
THE KNIGHTS SURVIVE COUGARS' LATE SECOND-HALF RALLY
Despite leading BYU 52-28 heading into the break, the 19th-ranked team in the country would not lie down and give up. The Cougars ferociously responded with a 56-point second half, outscoring the Knights by 11 points.
"We knew they weren't going anywhere," Dawkins said. "As I said before, [they're] too proud of the program. They're going to keep competing. We have to make sure we're executing to the very end of the game."
UCF's excellent first half provided the team with enough cushion to survive BYU's late rally, led by its star AJ Dybantsa.
UCF RETURNS HOME TO HOST BAYLOR
After two games in Utah, the Knights will return to the Addition Financial Arena to host the Baylor Bears on Saturday.
Saturday's matchup tips off at 8 p.m. on FS1.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!