Jordan Burks wasn’t proud of how UCF had let a 14-point, second-half lead slip away in a loss to West Virginia on Saturday.
As an alternative of wallowing in frustration, Burks took issues into his personal palms, tying a career-high with 23 factors in serving to the Knights to an 82-71 win over visiting TCU on Tuesday night time.
UCF (18-7, 7-6 Huge 12) snaps a three-game shedding streak, the longest of the season, whereas solidifying an NCAA Event resume. The Knights have already got wins over ranked foes Kansas and Texas Tech, however a nine-win mark in convention play would go far to creating their case for an at-large bid for the primary time for the reason that 2018-19 season.
TCU (16-10, 6-7 Huge 12) suffered its first loss since dropping a 87-61 contest towards Colorado on Feb. 1.
Burks obtained the Knights off to a fast begin, scoring 7 factors within the first 4 minutes as UCF constructed an early 9-2 lead.
Jamichael Stillwell, who was again within the lineup after lacking the final sport with an ankle harm, made his presence identified nearly instantly. The senior ahead grabbed a pair of early rebounds, together with an offensive putback for a rating.
UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) scores previous TCU ahead Xavier Edmonds (24) in the course of the TCU at UCF faculty basketball sport at Addition Monetary Enviornment in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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UCF guard Themus Fulks (1) scores previous TCU ahead Xavier Edmonds (24) in the course of the TCU at UCF faculty basketball sport at Addition Monetary Enviornment in Orlando on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
After being outrebounded of their earlier three video games, UCF hit the boards early within the sport, grabbing 4 fast rebounds.
UCF constructed its largest lead of the half at 24-14 with about 10 minutes left after scoring 8 of its subsequent 10 factors within the paint. The flexibility to attain within the center helped the Knights shoot over 77% from the ground over a seven-minute stretch.
Guard George Beale Jr. obtained into the scoring act with a well timed 3-pointer that pushed the result in 29-16 with 7:27 left.
UCF cruised to a 42-28 halftime benefit, capturing 58% (15 of 26) from the ground whereas holding TCU to 34% (10 of 29).
The Knights continued to pound the ball inside within the second half, rising their result in 19 factors with 10 minutes left within the sport. UCF shot over 60% from the ground throughout that stretch, whereas TCU shot 53%.
The Horned Frogs went on a 9-0 run, which despatched a nervous wave over the gang. It was an unpleasant reminder of Saturday’s efficiency when the Knights surrendered a double-digit lead over the past 10 minutes earlier than shedding to the Mountaineers, 74-67.
Themus Fulks’ floater with 6:04 ended a scoreless stretch of greater than 3 minutes that noticed TCU pull to inside 67-55. The fifth-year level guard scored 12 of his 14 factors within the closing six minutes to seal the win for the Knights.
The Knights entered Tuesday night time’s sport clearly on the bubble for an NCAA Event bid.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had UCF as a No. 10-seed in his newest Bracketology projections with TCU listed as a No. 11-seed.
UCF travels to Utah for a two-game swing that encompasses a showdown with the Utes on Saturday (9 p.m., ESPN+) earlier than a pivotal sport towards No. 23 BYU (11 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2) on Tuesday.
Please discover me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. E-mail: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Join the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly e-newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF protection.
