UCF uses big second-half spurt to hand previously unbeaten NKU 66-53 loss on Saturday night

NKyTribune staff

ORLANDO, Fla. — They have the tallest player in college basketball, but the Central Florida Knights are much more than towering 7-foot-6 shot-blocking specialist Tacko Fall.

UCF demonstrated that fact to visiting Northern Kentucky University on Saturday night during a 66-53 victory over the previously unbeaten Norse. The Knights (5-1) held NKU to just 32.2 percent shooting from the field and finished with a 51-35 advantage on the boards.

Fall scored 11 of his 20 points in the first half as UCF took a 34-32 lead into the locker room. The Knights began the second half with a 17-4 run to build a 51-36 advantage and extended that cushion to as many as 19 points before coasting to the victory.

“We played a productive first half, forced them (UCF) to do some things they weren’t comfortable with,” NKU head coach John Brannen said. “They have one of the top defensive teams in the country. Their length and athleticism is tough to deal with.

“I was really disappointed in our second-half performance, and it really goes back to practice. We didn’t have a good week of practice and we have to get that corrected. You just can’t turn it on for games.”

Drew McDonald scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds for NKU, which dropped to 6-1. The Norse shot just 7-for-17 (41.2 percent) from the free-throw line, while UCF converted only 17-for-36 (47.2 percent) of its charity tosses.

McDonald has now scored 1,569 career points. The 6-foot-8 senior is No. 2 in Norse history with 831 rebounds and is nearing LaRon Moore’s school-record 859 boards.

Tyler Sharpe scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds for NKU, while Dantez Walton added 11 points and five rebounds. NKU played without defensive standout Jalen Tate, who missed the game with an unspecified injury.

“Some guys had an opportunity to step up and didn’t take advantage of it,” Brannen said of Tate’s absence. “I don’t know how long he will be out, so we have to get better.”

Aubrey Dawkins netted 12 points for UCF, while teammate B.J. Taylor finished with 10 points. The Knights made 44 percent of their attempts from the field and forced NKU into 2-for-15 shooting from 3-point range in the second half.

The Norse drained six 3-pointers in the first half and finished 8-for-31 (25.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

The outrageously tall Knights, who have the 7-foot-6 Fall, 6-foot-11 Collin Smith, and 6-foot-9 Chad Brown patrolling the inside, blocked five shots and pulled down 41 defensive rebounds.

The defeat snapped NKU’s best start since the 2011-12 campaign, when the Norse began the season with 13 consecutive wins. That was also NKU’s final season of competition at the NCAA Division II level.

Saturday’s game marked the first meeting between NKU and Central Florida. The Knights are members of the American Athletic Conference.

NKU plays at Morehead State on Tuesday night. The tipoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, UCF Sports Information and staff reports)