Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 15 points off the bench as UCF opened the second half with a dominant 24-3 run, securing a convincing 87-72 win over Utah in Tuesday night's first round of the Big 12 basketball tournament.
It's the second straight year in which the Knights opened the Big 12 tourney with a first-round win. They defeated Oklahoma State last season before falling to BYU in the second round.
No. 14-seed UCF (17-15, 7-13 Big 12) started strong, taking a quick 7-2 lead before Utah responded with an 8-0 run, gaining a 10-7 advantage and prompting a Knights' timeout. The Utes kept applying pressure as UCF struggled offensively, going nearly seven minutes without scoring, falling behind 14-7 with 12 minutes left in the first half.
No. 11-seed Utah (16-16, 8-12 Big 12) surged ahead, establishing a commanding double-digit lead with a 19-2 scoring spree. However, Johnson ignited a response for UCF, sinking a crucial 3-pointer that set the stage for the Knights to rally. This momentum shift heralded an 11-4 run, narrowing the Utes' advantage to 25-20 as the clock ticked under seven minutes in the first half.
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As the game continued, UCF showed tenacity, steadily eroding Utah's lead and reaching within a single point at 40-39 by halftime.
The key was the bench's impact, particularly Ivy-Curry, who returned after sitting out the previous two games. He contributed 8 points in the first half. Complementing his effort were Nils Machowski, who had 5 points along with 3 rebounds, and Tyler Hendricks, who also chipped in with 5 points.
UCF began the second half much as it did the first, with an impressive 14-2 run fueled by another 3-pointer by Ivy-Curry, which helped the Knights retake the lead.
The advantage grew to double digits as Johnny Dawkins's team continued to apply relentless pressure on the defensive end, forcing seven early Utah turnovers.
The Knights were missing guards Mikey Williams and Jaylin Sellers. Williams dislocated his kneecap during practice last week and is sidelined for several weeks. Meanwhile, Sellers has played only three games this season due to an undisclosed injury.
The Knights were missing guards Mikey Williams and Jaylin Sellers. Williams dislocated his kneecap during practice last week and is sidelined for several weeks. Meanwhile, Sellers has played only three games this season due to an undisclosed injury.