UCF men’s basketball fell short in a near comeback to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament 75-71 on Friday, March 20 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Jordan Burks, UCF junior forward, led the team with six three-point baskets and 22 points. Riley Kugel, UCF senior guard, assisted with 13 points and Themus Fulks, UCF fifth year guard, led the team in assists with eight.
Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA junior guard, led the team with 20 points. Xavier Booker, UCLA junior forward, added on 15 points to help secure the win.
UCF started off the first half on a 6-0 run with a couple Fulks buckets and a midrange basket from Kugel. UCLA stormed back after scoring their first field goal three minutes into the game that sparked a 13-4 run. Dailey Jr. contributed three straight baskets and eight points.
UCF turnovers help UCLA widen their lead to 10 halfway through the first half 22-12. UCLA was able to hold this lead for most of the backend of the half, but UCF was able to cut the deficit to eight before halftime.
UCLA led 35-27 at half led by Dailey Jr.’s 12 points. Fulks contributed six points and a game-high five assists for UCF at half.
Dailey Jr. continued his scoring out the gate, starting the second half with a three-point basket. Booker scored sixpoints of his own, including a basket from beyond the arc and an alley-oop dunk. Burks’ back-to-back three pointers and assist to a three pointer from Devan Cambridge, sixth year forward, helped UCF tighten the margin with a run of their own.
UCLA kept scoring on the other end, making it hard for UCF to make a comeback as they were down 11 with only 10 minutes left in the game. Kugel scored 7 straight points for UCF with under four minutes left. Another Burk three pointer helped UCF cut the deficit to six, but at this point UCLA only had to play keep-away.
With UCLA in the bonus late in the game, all they had to do was let UCF foul them to earn free throws at the line. Another Burks three pointer closed the deficit to threepoints, but UCLA closed the game out with free throws.
UCF struggled with 17 turnovers throughout the game to UCLA’s 8 turnovers. The Knights also struggled at the free throw line, only converting five out of their 16 attempts.
UCF is now eliminated from the tournament after their 21-win season and sixth appearance in the March Madness tournament.