Riding upset momentum, UCF faces another Top-10 challenge. Can they topple No. 8 Houston with their high-octane offense and clutch player?
Game time: 7 p.m.
Where: Fertitta Center; Houston, Texas
TV/Radio: FS1/96.9 FM The Game
Vitals: The UCF Knights (17-4, 6-3 Big 12) are riding the upset momentum after defeating then-No. 11 Texas Tech 88-80 and face another tough challenge against No. 8 Houston (19-2, 7-1 Big 12). The Cougars were the 10th-ranked team last week, but jumped up two spots following back-to-back wins against Texas Christian University and Cincinnati. Guard Kingston Flemings is their star freshman, leading the team in scoring (17 points), assists (5.4) and field goal percentage (51.4%).
Betting odds, courtesy of USA Today:
Spread: UCF +16, Houston -16
Moneyline: UCF +930, Houston -1620
Over/Under: 148 total points
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KEY UCF PLAYERS:
G Riley Kugel: 14.8 PTS, 3.5 REBS and 2.8 ASTS on 42.3 FG%, 72.9 FT% and 40% 3P%
G Themus Fulks: 14.2 PTS, 3.1 REBS and 7.2 ASTS on 49.3 FG%, 77.2 FT% and 45.5 3P%
F Jamichael Stillwell: 12.4 PTS, 8.1 REBS and 1.9 ASTS on 52.7 FG%, 69.7 FT% and 35.7 3P%
F Jordan Burks: 12.7 PTS and 4.3 REBS on 47.6 FG%, 85.5 FT% and 38.7 3P%
C John Bol: 5.6 PTS and 5.2 REBS on 73.9 FG% and 64 FT%
KEY UCF STATS:
SCORING OFFENSE: 84.2 POINTS/GAME (5th in Big 12)
- 48.3 FG% (4th in Big 12)
- 38.2 3P% (3rd in Big 12)
- 73.5 FT% (8th in Big 12)
- 16.7 ASTS (4th in Big 12)
- 13 OREBS (4th in Big 12)
SCORING DEFENSE: 77.1 POINTS/GAME (11th in Big 12)
- 45.2 FG% (12th in Big 12)
- 34 3P% (9th in Big 12)
- 73.3 FT% (14th in Big 12)
- 14.4 ASTS (12th in Big 12)
- 25.3 DREBS (8th in Big 12)
QUOTE: "We don't have much time to celebrate this game," Coach Johnny Dawkins said after upsetting then-No. 11 Texas Tech. "That's for sure. I think by the end of the day, this has to be past us. You have to be willing to go into the next play in this game because in our conference, every single night, you're going to be competing against a great program, a great team, great coaches, and again, so we have to make sure that we reset and start preparing for our next opponent because that's all that matters in this game is who's next and getting ready to compete against them."
KNIGHTS AIMING TO ADD THIRD UPSET TO THEIR RESUME
UCF is no stranger to upsetting ranked opponents, as evidenced by its last two victories against then-No. 17 Kansas and then-No. 11 Texas Tech. The team's intensity skyrockets, forcing the opposing team to have an uncharacteristic game.
For Texas Tech, it was turnovers. The Knights made them turn the ball over 13 times, which was more than their 10.4 turnover average at the time. Additionally, Fulks rises to the challenge.
He averages 18.8 points, three rebounds and 5.4 assists against Top-25 teams this season. Fulks is a player to keep an eye on if UCF upsets No. 8 Houston.