Knights Edge Gardner-Webb without BJ Taylor, Tacko Fall

(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
(Video by Jade Nunez, Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)

Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights are still learning to play without star point guard B.J. Taylor and stalwart center Tacko Fall. That’s come with some growing pains, as the Knights (2-0) narrowly edged the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-3) 68-65 Wednesday night at CFE Arena.

For some Knights players, it was a game that shouldn’t have been as close as it was, as Gardner-Webb was an opponent that had been blown out twice by two other Florida schools this season.

“It was a tough game for us. Shots weren’t really falling for us,” said Knights guard Dayon Griffin, who finished with 12 points, after the game. “They were hitting some big shots, so I think that we just—wasn’t expecting the game to be, you know, that close. We thought we was gonna, you know, actually, like, play a good game, but just ‘cause our shots weren’t falling, we had to dig in defensively, so we digged it in and got the win, so that’s all that matters.”

Gardner-Webb trailed by as much as 12 points, but the Runnin’ Bulldogs managed to bring themselves within one point of the Knights within the final four minutes of play.

With UCF holding a 63-52 lead, Runnin’ Bulldogs leading scorer D.J. Laster drained a three-pointer. Knights point guard Terrell Allen then missed two free throws, allowing David Efianayi to score a three of his own to make it a 63-58 game. Liam O’Reilly then scored Gardner-Webb’s final seven points, making a layup, draining two free throws and hitting a three-pointer. O’Reilly also took the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ final game-tying attempt.

“I give Gardner-Webb credit. You know, I thought they did a really good job of—they hit some tough shots, some tough threes, and that three ball really does change the game,” Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins said after the win. “I mean, all of a sudden, you’re up 12, or you’re up 10. Team hits two or three threes, all of a sudden, it’s a, you know, two-point game or a three-point game…that fast.

“So, you know, I give Gardner-Webb credit, you know, more so than us letting up. You know, they made tough shots, and that’s what good teams and good players do.”

UCF gained just a narrow 31-28 lead at halftime but didn’t break away for the win until midway through the second half. With the Knights trailing 45-42 with just over 12 minutes to go, Griffin converted his and-1 free throw after claiming two of his own missed layups. That started the Knights’ 18-3 run that kept Gardner-Webb at bay for the rest of the game.

Griffin contributed eight of the Knights’ 18 points in that run, as redshirt senior A.J. Davis added four of his own.

“I knew we needed a good play. I mean, I felt like the game was kinda close for a second; it was kinda stagnant,” Griffin said. “Just being aggressive just like everybody else was being aggressive… Coach was like they were in foul trouble; they had like seven fouls at the time, I think? So we just had to keep attacking the basket and keep, you know, putting pressure on the defense. So that’s what I did.”

UCF and Gardner-Webb exchanged leads in the first 30 minutes, as the Knights were led in scoring by forward Chad Brown, who averaged just 4.3 points per game last season, and newcomer Ceasar DeJesus. Brown and DeJesus each had eight points to lead the Knights in the first half, but DeJesus’ night was cut short because of a cramp in his left leg.

Player of the Game: F A.J. Davis

Davis finished the game with his first double-double of the season, going for 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. He was instrumental in his team’s 18-3 run that gave UCF its largest lead—12 points—as he recorded four points, three rebounds and an assist in that second-half stretch. Davis also shot 5-for-7 from the free-throw line and recorded three offensive rebounds.

What’s next?

UCF hosts the College of William & Mary on Saturday for their final home game before the Advocare Invitational that begins on Nov. 23 in Lake Buena Vista.

Terrell Allen Records 1st Start as Knight, as Leading Point Guard

In Taylor’s absence, Dawkins looked to Allen, a Drexel University transfer in his first year of eligibility with UCF, as his leader on the court. Allen played Taylor-like minutes, playing for a game-high 37 minutes. He scored 12 points on an efficient 4-for-4 clip and totaled four rebounds and distributed three of UCF’s five assists on the night.

Allen had a moment of redemption in the final two minutes of the game. With UCF leading 63-55, Allen missed consecutive free throws. That allowed the Runnin’ Bulldogs to climb within five after a three-pointer by Efianayi. Two possessions later, he was called upon, again, to make clutch free throws; this time, he made them both.

“I thought Terrell was very solid,” Dawkins said. “I mean, it isn’t his first time at that duty, starting. He played 37 minutes, and that’s a lot… I thought he made some huge plays for us in the second half… He got into the paint, penetrated, finished… Stepped up and made two big free throws for us late after actually missing two says a lot about his character. You know, a guy that can come back and respond and still want the ball and still go down and knock ’em down.”

Allen took only four shots and made all of them. A low amount of shot attempts is something Allen appears to be comfortable with, as his first shot came with less than two minutes in the first half, a buzzer-beating three. He also took no shots but went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the season-opening win over Mercer University.

For Dawkins, being more of a distributor than a scorer is Allen’s role.

“No, [I don’t want him to shoot more]. He’s not B.J. You know, B.J.’s a different point guard from him,” Dawkins said. “I think what he did tonight was perfect. He took key shots for us, got to the basket, you know, made key plays, and-1 layups and things of that nature.

“That’s who he is. But he can make an open shot, which he did tonight. He made the open three, and if he continues to do that, he’ll be fine for us. We have enough firepower around him, you know, that he doesn’t have to feel compelled to be as assertive offensively.”

Chad Brown’s Offseason Work Is Reflected in Win over Gardner-Webb

Brown recorded a career-high five blocks in the win over Gardner-Webb, as he showed off his 3.5-inch vertical increase. Even more impressive, though, was his improved free-throw shooting. Last season, Brown shot just 62.5 percent from the free-throw line. In the win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs, Brown went 8-for-10 from the line and was tied for most points for the Knights with eight by halftime.

“Well, you know, offseason, you know, I spent a lot of time, you know, just working on, you know, just touch around the rim, you know, free throws ’cause I know I get fouled a lot ’cause I’m really aggressive. I like to attack,” Brown said after the win. “And so, you know, I really worked on that in the offseason. You know, every day, before and after practice, I shoot 50 free throws, and, you know, it’s paying off.

“And today I was 8-for-10. I wanted to be 10-for-10 but, you know, 8-for-10. You know, that’s alright.”

Highlights

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NDR Notes

• With UCF’s win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday, the Knights are 2-0 to start a season in consecutive seasons.
• UCF’s win over Gardner-Webb was its fifth-straight win at home.
• Allen’s first field-goal attempt of the season was a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the first half. He had no shot attempts in the win over Mercer.
• Davis and Brown each recorded their first double-doubles of the season.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Team Leaders

Team Statistics

Shooting Percentages

UCF Knights starting lineup: Terrell Allen (G), Ceasar DeJesus (G), Dayon Griffin (G), A.J. Davis (F), Rokas Ulvydas (F)

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs starting lineup: Jamaal Robateau (G), Christian Turner (G), David Efianayi (G), DJ Laster (F), L’Hassane Niangane (C)

For more on the Knights, as they prepare for the Tribe, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.