UCF basketball recap: Golden Knights Suffer Overtime Defeat @ Tulsa

CUSA Fans UCF Correspondent Ryan Westin brings the latest update on the UCF Golden Knights basketball team.

TULSA , OK—UCF was not able to hold onto a half time lead as it dropped a 66-64 overtime decision to Tulsa on Saturday night at the Reynolds Center. The Golden Knights are now 20-8 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

The Knights shot 34.6 percent from the floor for the contest while Tulsa finished the game shooting 44.7 percent from the field. UCF shot well in the first half and entered the locker room shooting 43 percent but they would only shoot 29 percent after the break. The Knights also struggled from the line in the second half and overtime, as they shot only 63 percent.

UCF was able to get on the board first with a 12-foot jumper by Lavell Payne. Payne had 14 points in the game and added eight rebounds. Mike O'Donnell also had 14 points while recording four assists and four steals against the Golden Hurricane.

Tulsa was able to get into the bonus early after a reach in foul on Chip Cartwright with 11:59 to play in the first stanza. The first half was filled with fouls as the Knights were whistled for 14 while Tulsa committed 11 fouls. The two teams were whistled for a combined 50 fouls (UCF 27 and Tulsa 23) in the game.

The Knights extended their lead to eight after Dave Noel knocked down a three to put the Knights ahead 20 to 12. Despite the twenty points, none of the Knights had scored more than four points as UCF’s scoring was done by seven different players.

The Knights led by five, 32-27, at the break.

Tulsa started the second half hot, making their first five shots in taking a 40-37 lead. Tulsa scored nine unanswered points to take the lead after lay-up by Brett McDade.

The Knights fought back to tie the game with just over five minutes remaining in the contest following a technical foul being assessed to Tulsa’s Jamel McLean after Josh Peppers committed a foul. UCF would take a one-point lead a minute later after it worked the ball inside to Lavell Payne for a lay-up to assume the 52-51 advantage. Tulsa's Brett McDade would answer by knocking down a three to give the Golden Hurricane a 54-52 edge.

The Knights went back inside to Lavell Payne as he again was able to work it for another lay-up to tie it up at 54 all. The lead would continue to exchange hands as Josh Peppers nailed a three from the right wing to put UCF up by two, 59-57. Tulsa answered the bell again, as the next time down the court Jamel McLean converted a lay-up to knot the score at 59. McLean was fouled on the play, but was unable to make good on the three-point play.

UCF had the opportunity to retake the lead, but Ben Uzoh got away with jumping on the back of Chip Cartwright, which allowed him to steal Mike O'Donnell's pass. Tulsa missed its chance to win the game after Brett McDade’s last second shot fell short and the game headed to overtime.

In the extra five minutes, Tulsa took an early four-point lead after a nice jump shot by Brett McDade from just inside the arc. A Jermaine Taylor lay-up and then a steal by Mike O'Donnell the next time down the court tied the game with 1:24 to go in overtime. O'Donnell was able to steal another pass and was fouled hard as he went to the floor. However, he got up and sunk two free throws to tie the game at 64. With 20 seconds to play, Calvin Walls was there for a put back to give the Golden Hurricane the lead for good. UCF's Jermaine Taylor drew contact as he shot a runner to try and tie the game, but no foul was called and the shot was no good. Tulsa rebounded with one second to go and missed both free throws to leave the door open, but the game ended with Josh Peppers’ prayer from the Tulsa free throw line being well off the mark.

Positively Impacting Future
UCF head coach Kirk Speraw said that the tough game against Tulsa was "the type of game that will help us for the conference tournament."

Please refrain from the throwing of objects...
Tulsa head coach Doug Wojcik received a technical foul in the second half after throwing his jacket after UCF blocked a lay-up by Tulsa. UCF was only able to make one of the two free throws after the technical.

What Not To Wear
Tulsa players donned some unusual warm-up attire on Senior Night. The Golden Hurricanes wore tie die warm up shirts and their shorts had streaks of tie die down the sides.

Friendly Confines
With the loss to Tulsa, UCF is now 7-7 away from the UCF Arena. The Knights are 13-1 this season when they play at home.

Lets Go Tigers
Houston, who is now a half game ahead of UCF, will play against Memphis on CBS. If the Tigers can beat the Cougars then the Knights will be able to control their own fate of trying to lock up the number two seed in the conference tournament.

Who's Next?
UCF travels home for its final two games of the regular season as they host Houston on Wednesday and East Carolina on Saturday. The Knights look to avenge a loss to the Cougars at Houston when the Knights were up 22 in the second half, but lost in overtime.