Fabian White Jr. paired 12 points with five rebounds and became the winningest player in program history as the 14th-ranked Houston Cougars beat the visiting UCF Knights 70-52 Thursday.
The Cougars (21-4, 10-2 American) snapped a two-game skid by limiting the Knights (15-9, 7-7) to 28.3 percent shooting. UCF endured two separate stretches of 11 or more consecutive missed field goals.
White, who added three blocks to his ledger, participated in his 110th victory, snapping a tie with former Houston standout guard Michael Young. Kyler Edwards had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Cougars while Jamal Shead added 12 points and eight assists.
The Knights used an 8-0 run midway through the second half to cut the Houston lead to 45-44, with Darius Perry following Dre Fuller Jr.’s pull-up with a 3-pointer to threaten the Cougars once more.
But Edwards responded with a 3-pointer and Taze Moore (14 points, seven rebounds) added a transition dunk as Houston reclaimed control. Ramon Walker Jr., just 6-for-29 on the season from behind the arc, then nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Cougars to a 56-44 lead.
Fuller and Darius Johnson scored 12 points apiece to pace the Knights.
The first half was defined by a pair of scoreless droughts, one for each team.
UCF went more than nine minutes without a point, missing 12 consecutive shots while the Cougars reeled off a 13-0 run for a 17-5 lead. J’Wan Roberts scored the final three baskets for Houston during that stretch, but the Knights rebounded quickly with a 10-0 spurt keyed by three consecutive Houston turnovers.
Johnson started the UCF rally with a 3-pointer at the 9:28 mark and C.J. Walker’s dunk capped the surge and pulled the Knights to within 17-15. Houston endured a five-minute scoreless stretch finally snapped by Edwards’ 3-pointer with 5:47 left in the first half.
Despite missing 23 of 31 field goals and allowing 18 points in the paint, the Knights were within six points at the break largely by defending without fouling. When White sank a pair of free throws at the 3:30 mark of the half, it marked the first trip to the line for the Cougars. The Knights and Cougars shot a combined 7-for-25 from behind the arc prior to the intermission.
–Field Level Media
