UCF uses second-half surge to push past Utah, advance in Big 12 tourney

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Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 15 points off the bench as UCF opened the second half with a dominant 24-3 run, securing a convincing 87-72 win over Utah in Tuesday night’s first round of the Big 12 basketball tournament.

The Knights advance to play sixth-seeded Kansas in a second-round matchup on Wednesday (9:30 p.m., ESPN+)

Ivy-Curry was one of four UCF players scoring in double digits, led by Keyshawn Hall’s 23 points. Darius Johnson added 20 points and Moustapha Thiam had his third career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

It’s the second straight year that the Knights have opened the Big 12 tourney with a first-round win. They defeated Oklahoma State last season before falling to BYU in the second round.

“I’m really proud of our guys’ effort, especially in the second half,” said coach Johnny Dawkins. “It may have been one of the best second halves we’ve had all season. Our guys really played efficient basketball offensively, and the defense was outstanding.”

No. 14-seed UCF (17-15, 7-13 Big 12) started strong, taking a quick 7-2 lead before Utah responded with an 8-0 run, gaining a 10-7 advantage and prompting a Knights’ timeout. The Utes kept applying pressure as UCF struggled offensively, going nearly seven minutes without scoring, falling behind 14-7 with 12 minutes left in the first half.

No. 11-seed Utah (16-16, 8-12 Big 12) surged ahead, establishing a commanding double-digit lead with a 19-2 scoring spree. However, Johnson ignited a response for UCF, sinking a crucial 3-pointer that set the stage for the Knights to rally. This momentum shift heralded an 11-4 run, narrowing the Utes’ advantage to 25-20 as the clock ticked under seven minutes in the first half.

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As the game continued, UCF showed tenacity, steadily eroding Utah’s lead and reaching within a single point at 40-39 by halftime.

The key was the bench’s impact, particularly Ivy-Curry, who returned after sitting out the previous…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/ucf-uses-second-half-surge-034100562.html

Author : Orlando Sentinel

Publish date : 2025-03-12 03:41:00

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