Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks each scored 18 points, Jamichael Stillwell had 12 points and 11 rebounds and UCF extended its winning streak to four with a 77-67 victory over Pitt on Thursday night in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Fulks made three 3-pointers and dished out four assists as UCF (5-1) successfully debuted at the annual Legends Classic and earned the program’s first-ever win against Pitt (4-2). The Knights also won for the fourth time in five visits to the Ocean Center — located fewer than 60 miles from the Knights’ campus in Orlando — dating back to 1997.
Jordan Burks, a transfer from Georgetown, chipped in nine points and four rebounds for UCF.
UCF entered as one of the nation’s top teams in 3-point shooting percentage (47.7), but the Knights finished just 6 of 18 from behind the arc. The Knights benefited from 24 second-chance points and a 46-28 scoring edge in the paint.
Pitt made 18 of 21 free throws but converted only 7 of 27 3-pointers.
Cameron Corhen posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Panthers and Barry Dunning Jr. had 14 points off the bench, making all six of his free throws. Damarco Minor contributed 14 points, punctuated by a late flurry of 3-pointers that helped keep the Panthers close. He added four rebounds and four assists.
UCF opened the second half on a 15-3 run for a 53-39 lead with 13:22 remaining. Stillwell had back-to-back baskets, 7-foot-2 center John Bol added an offensive putback and a lane jumper and Carmelo Pacheco sank a 3-pointer to highlight the decisive stretch.
Kugel was whistled for his fourth foul with just more than 11 minutes left and UCF ahead 55-44. Pitt’s Brandin Cummings, who entered averaging 13.8 points per game, completed a three-point play to get on the scoresheet, but UCF countered with a quick 7-0 run to make it 62-47.
Fulks made an open three as time ran down in the first half, lifting UCF to a 38-36 advantage at intermission. The opening 20 minutes featured eight lead changes and four ties as Pitt established a rhythm inside with Corhen, who had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
–Field Level Media
