Central Florida's potent offense was on full display as they took down Colorado 95-86 at the CU Events Center. Riley Kugel led the charge for the Knights, scoring 22 points to pace the team. The win marked a strong performance by UCF, who entered the game as a slight underdog according to CHD Scout's predictions, which had Colorado winning by 2.9 points. However, the Knights had other plans, outscoring the Buffaloes by nine points to prove the prediction wrong.
The game got off to a high-scoring start, with UCF taking a 49-47 lead into halftime. Colorado's Sebastian Rancik was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 12 of his 20 points to keep the Buffaloes within striking distance. However, UCF's balanced attack, which saw four players score in double figures, ultimately proved too much for Colorado to handle. Themus Fulks chipped in with 19 points and 8 assists, while Jamichael Stillwell added 15 points and 7 rebounds to support Kugel's efforts.
CHD Scout Report Card
INCORRECTPredicted
Final
Colorado's offense was equally impressive, with Rancik joined by Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress in scoring 20 points apiece. However, the Buffaloes' defense struggled to contain UCF's shooters, who knocked down several key three-pointers to stretch the lead. Despite a strong effort from Colorado, UCF's offense continued to click in the second half, scoring 46 points to seal the win.
The loss drops Colorado to 12-8 on the season, while UCF improves to 15-4. As a Quadrant 2 game for both teams, the result has real consequences for their tournament resumes. For Colorado, the loss is a missed opportunity to bolster their resume with a win over a top-40 team. Meanwhile, UCF's win strengthens their case for a tournament bid, as they continue to rack up quality wins on the road.
As the season enters its final stretch, UCF's high-powered offense will be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament conversation. With a current net ranking of 39, the Knights are well-positioned to make a deep run in the postseason. Colorado, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus in order to make a push for the tournament. With a net ranking of 78, the Buffaloes still have work to do to secure a spot in the field. The loss to UCF is a setback, but Colorado want to bounce back and build momentum in the coming weeks.