Field Level Media
Nov 13, 2021
Darin Green Jr. scored 23 points to keep Central Florida unbeaten and lead the Knights to a 95-89 nonconference victory over host Miami on Saturday afternoon.
Kameron McGusty had a game-high 28 points for Miami (1-1), while tying his career high.
UCF (2-0) outrebounded the Hurricanes 43-23, while going 11 of 27 (40.7 percent) from 3-point range. The Knights held the Hurricanes to 6 of 26 (23.1 percent) from long distance.
Green was 9 of 16 from the floor, including 5 of 9 on 3-pointers as UCF led by as many as 17 points in the second half. The Knights' C.J. Walker added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Knights made two changes in their starting lineup after a 69-59 victory over Robert Morris. Walker and Darius Johnson got the start, while Brandon Mahan and Isaiah Adams moved to a reserve role. Mahan scored 15 points off the bench, while Adams added 12.
Miami's Isaiah Wong scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, but the Hurricanes were unable to rally from a 43-35 deficit at the break.
Sam Waardenburg scored 16 points for the Hurricanes, while Anthony Walker had 12.
Miami led for just 35 seconds of the game, at 2-0. UCF's suffocating defense helped the Knights build a 27-13 early lead, with the 14-point advantage their largest of the first half.
UCF shot 48.5 percent from the floor in the first half, including 6 of 16 (37.5 percent) on 3-pointers. Miami shot just 28.0 percent from the floor in the opening half, including 2 of 15 (13.3 percent) on 3-pointers.
Miami stayed in the game by outscoring UCF 19-5 on the foul line in the opening 20 minutes.
UCF made the first four baskets of the second half, stretching its lead to 52-35. Miami got as close as six points at 64-58 with 9:01 left, but Adams made a 3-pointer on UCF's next possession, and the Knights were in control until the closing minute.
Waardenburg 3-pointer with 25 seconds left cut UCF's lead to 90-95. Miami got as close as 92-89 before the Knights sealed the victory on three free throws in the final nine seconds.
--Field Level Media