Tulsa @ Central Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 19, 2019 ) Tulsa 62, Central Florida 64

Tulsa’s six-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt last time out and the Golden Hurricane could be without their leading scorer when they visit Central Florida on Sunday afternoon for an American Athletic Conference battle. Tulsa rose to first place in the league with its impressive winning streak, but allowed 51.9 percent shooting in a 72-56 loss to Connecticut at home Thursday as junior guard Brandon Rachal (13.9 points) went down with an ankle injury.

Rachal is questionable for the game in Orlando after the Golden Hurricane missed 11 of the 12 attempted 3-pointers, with top threat Jeriah Horne (0-for-1) saddled with foul trouble, against UConn and were pounded on the glass 37-22 to drop out of the top spot in the conference by a half game. “We had some good looks,” coach Frank Haith told the Tulsa World. “We just didn’t make any shots. … It made it hard when you lose one of the guys that stretches the defense for you. Our perimeter guys just had tough nights, didn’t make shots.” UCF will pose a challenge for the Golden Hurricane after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 68-64 victory at East Carolina on Thursday as three players scored at least 13. “We believe in our guys. We know it’s there,” Knights coach Johnny Dawkins told reporters after his team shot 48 percent from the floor overall and made 10-of-23 from 3-point range. “I think you saw a glimpse of that (Thursday). Guys stepped up, they had their looks and they knocked them down.”

TIME: 2 p.m. ET. TV: None

ABOUT TULSA (15-7, 7-2 AAC): Forward Martins Igbanu tried to save the Golden Hurricane with a career-high 29 points against UConn and the 6-8 senior scored a total of 67 in the past three games to boost his season mark to 11.7 on 53.4 percent shooting. Rachal, who also hauls in a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game, made 2-of-14 from the field in his last two outings and Horne (11.4 points, team-high 36 made 3-pointers) scored nine total in the same span. Junior guard Elijah Joiner adds 7.5 points and a team-best 3.4 assists after following up a season-high 22 points versus Wichita State with nine Thursday.

ABOUT UCF (12-10, 3-7): Junior forward Collin Smith tops the team in scoring (12.7) and poured in 14 against East Carolina on 6-of-11 from the field while junior guard Ceasar DeJesus contributes 10.5 per game on 50.3 percent shooting. Senior guard Dazon Ingram is third on the team in scoring (8.8) and leads the way in rebounds (7.4) and assists (3.9) after dishing out a career-high 10 in Thursday’s triumph. Freshman guard Darin Green Jr. (8.4 points) is scoring 11.8 per game over the past four and senior guard Matt Milon (5.5) drained a season high-tying five 3-pointers to score 17 versus East Carolina.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Knights junior G Brandon Mahon went 3-of-4 from the floor Thursday after making 6-of-21 in the previous three games.

2. Tulsa junior G Darien Jackson averages 8.7 points and shoots a team-best 56.1 percent from the field.

3. The Knights trail the all-time series 13-8, but won the only meeting last season 64-62 at home and visits Tulsa on Feb. 29.

PREDICTION: UCF 68, Tulsa 62