National Basketball Association
Central Florida 75, Texas Tech 61
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 24, 2024
Where: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Florida
Officials:
# Keith Kimble, # Jeb Hartness, # Chris Merlo
Attendance:
8711
By Field Level Media
Darius Johnson scored 16 points and UCF snapped a four-game losing streak with a 75-61 victory over No. 23 Texas Tech on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
Jaylin Sellers added 15 points as the Knights (14-12, 5-9 Big 12) won over a ranked opponent for just the third time this season.
The Red Raiders (19-8, 8-6) fell to 2-6 in true road games despite a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds from Darrion Williams and 18 points from Kerwin Walton.
Down 63-52 with 5:20 to go and looking to overcome its fifth double-digit deficit of the year for a win, the comeback hopes stalled during a drought of seven-plus minutes without a field goal. Texas Tech missed eight of its final 10 field goals in the loss.
The Knights went into halftime leading 36-32 and got two big jumpers from Shemarri Allen to help stretch their lead to 40-34 with 16:43 to go.
Walton had the Red Raiders within 53-50 after hitting a jumper midway through the half but Johnson buried two clutch 3-pointers late in the half, including one with 5:20 remaining that put the Knights up 11.
A back and forth affair early, though with Texas Tech always staying a step ahead, the Knights took their first lead of the day on a layup by DeMarr Langford with 9:39 left. The shot was part of an 8-0 run that forced the Red Raiders to call a timeout after Antwann Jones scored inside a little over a minute later.
Walton didn't let the momentum shift last long, burying back-to-back 3-pointers as Texas Tech pushed back in front 27-26 with 3:14 remaining. His play in the first half was instrumental as he hit three 3-pointers and scored 12.
But back came the Knights, who ended a nearly four-minute field goal drought with a 3-pointer from Sellers with 2:55 to go, sparking an 8-0 run where Johnson also connected from long range as UCF took a 34-27.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Texas Tech |
|
Central Florida |
Darrion Williams 19 |
Scoring |
Darius Johnson 16 |
Joe Toussaint 3 |
Assists |
Darius Johnson 5 |
Darrion Williams 11 |
Rebounds |
Thierno Sylla 7 |
Darrion Williams 6 |
Free Throws Made |
C.J. Walker 4 |
Joe Toussaint 2 |
Steals |
Darius Johnson 4 |
Darrion Williams 1 |
Blocks |
Ibrahima Diallo 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Texas Tech
|
61 |
37.0 |
8-28 |
13-20 |
12 |
31 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
Central Florida
|
75 |
46.6 |
6-12 |
15-19 |
10 |
34 |
3 |
11 |
8 |