UCF Knights go cold at T-Mobile Center as Arizona Wildcats turn paint into profit in Big 12 quarterfinal

The University of Central Florida Knights entered the Big 12 quarterfinal at 17-16, and the Arizona Wildcats arrived at 21-11 before Arizona took the neutral-floor result 81-59 at T-Mobile Center on 3:14 PM EDT.

First half

UCF scored 30 in the opening half while Arizona hit 46 in the same half to set an early separation with 0 times tied and 0 lead changes in the game log.

UCF shot 36 percent from the field in the game and 14 percent from 3-point range on 21 attempts as the Knights generated 28 points in the paint.

Arizona shot 48 percent from the field and reached the line for 31 free throw attempts as the Wildcats produced 38 points in the paint.

UCF recorded 10 assists against 11 turnovers, and Arizona posted 9 assists with 8 turnovers as the Wildcats converted 18 points off turnovers.

Second half

UCF put up 29 after halftime while Arizona scored 35 as the Wildcats’ biggest lead reached 27 in the official team statistics.

UCF collected 36 total rebounds with 12 offensive boards and got 17 bench points, and Arizona finished with 44 rebounds, 13 offensive rebounds, and 21 bench points.

UCF logged 3 blocks and 4 steals while Arizona countered with 6 blocks and 5 steals, and UCF was charged with 24 personal fouls as Arizona drew 24 fouls.

The UCF Knights vs Arizona Wildcats final score settled at 81-59, and the Knights’ 67 percent at the line on 15 attempts contrasted with Arizona’s 55 percent on 31 tries.

Key individual notes

Themus Fulks carried over his previous-game form with 14 points in that last outing, and Jamichael Stillwell posted 11 rebounds with 5 assists in his previous-game line.

John Bol’s previous-game 2 blocks and Jordan Burks’ previous-game 10 points reflected frontcourt production UCF has leaned on in this tournament run.

What the numbers said

UCF’s 9 fast-break points and 10 second-chance points showed where the Knights found offense, and Arizona answered with 12 fast-break points and 14 second-chance points in the team sheet.

This UCF Knights vs Arizona Wildcats tactical recap centers on Arizona’s 52 percent shooting on 2-pointers and UCF’s 48 percent on 2-pointers across 42 attempts.

This UCF Knights vs Arizona Wildcats scoreline review also tracks Arizona’s 38 percent from 3-point range against UCF’s 3 made 3-pointers.

The UCF Knights vs Arizona Wildcats full match report is stamped to ESPN’s national broadcast window and an attendance figure of 14745 in Kansas City.

UCF fans can run back the possession-by-possession swing in the box score and keep tabs on how the Knights’ shot profile compared with Arizona’s free-throw volume, then share this article with fellow UCF supporters.