With simply 14 seconds left on the clock in regulation, Jordan Ivy-Curry drained an important 3-pointer that propelled UCF right into a tense time beyond regulation in opposition to Kansas throughout Wednesday’s Large 12 event’s second spherical.
The shot gave the Knights a glimmer of hope, however as the additional interval unfolded, the group struggled to keep up momentum and vitality earlier than succumbing to the Jayhawks, 98-94.
Keyshawn Corridor completed with 25 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas Darius Johnson added 22 earlier than fouling out late in regulation. Ivy-Curry added 10 factors.
Kansas heart Hunter Dickinson scored 15 of his 23 factors within the second half.
““It was a hard-fought sport … I assumed our guys did an awesome job following the sport plan and giving us an opportunity to have the ability to win,” Dawkins mentioned after the loss.
The Jayhawks advance to the quarterfinals and can face No. 3-seeded Arizona on Thursday at 9:30 p.m., which shall be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.
This was the third assembly between these two packages, with UCF dropping the earlier two conferences: a 99-48 loss in Orlando on Jan. 5 and a 91-87 win in Lawrence.
UCF (17-16, 7-13 Large 12) struggled to search out its rhythm in the beginning of the sport, lacking its first 5 shot makes an attempt and rapidly falling behind 8-0 to Kansas (21-11, 11-9 Large 12). It was practically 4 minutes earlier than the Knights lastly managed to sink their first basket on the 16:25 mark.
In the meantime, the Jayhawks capitalized on UCF’s missteps, establishing an early 8-point lead within the half. Nevertheless, the Knights started to combat again, pushed by Johnson, who accounted for six of the Knights’ first 13 factors, sparking hope for a comeback.
UCF tied the sport twice in 5 minutes halfway via the half however didn’t take the lead as KU headed into halftime with a 40-37 benefit.
Corridor had 14 factors within the first half, whereas Johnson added 9.
The Knights tied the sport at 40 popping out of intermission. Nevertheless, the momentum shifted swiftly when Dickinson, who had struggled to make an affect within the first half, erupted by scoring 10 of the Jayhawks’ first 18 factors within the second half, propelling them to a 58-48 lead.
However UCF went on a 12-0 run due to 4 consecutive 3-pointers by Deebo Coleman, Moustapha Thiam and Tyler Hendricks halfway via the half, because the Knights grabbed their first lead at 65-64. Each groups went back-and-forth, exchanging the lead earlier than a pair of KJ Adams free throws pushed KU forward 83-80 with 1:13 left.
That opened the door for Ivy-Curry’s dramatic 3-pointer to tie the sport and ship it into time beyond regulation.
The Knights by no means held the lead within the further interval and bought inside a degree twice earlier than the Jayhawks sealed the win with free throws.
Ivy-Curry was again within the beginning lineup for the primary time since Feb. 19 in opposition to Oklahoma State. The fifth-year senior scored 15 factors within the Knights’ 87-72 win over No. 11 seed Utah on Tuesday evening in a first-round matchup.
Thiam completed with 13 factors and 9 rebounds.
UCF’s postseason plans are in limbo at this level, with both the Nationwide Invitation Match or Faculty Basketball Crown almost certainly viable choices.
Matt Murschel might be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
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