• Final stats

For most of the 2017-18 season, offense has been a struggle for the UCF Knights (17-11, 8-8 in American Athletic Conference).

That was, perhaps, most prevalent in the first seven minutes of a 75-56 road loss to Temple University at Liacouras Center on Feb. 25, as the Knights fell to an early 16-0 deficit.

Redshirt senior A.J. Davis, who led UCF in scoring with 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting, drained a 3 to open the Knights’ scoring at the 12:39 mark. The early deficit, however, proved too difficult to overcome. UCF never reduced Temple’s lead to lower than nine points, as the Owls (16-12, 8-8 in AAC) increased their lead to as high as 24.

UCF started the game with six missed field goals, including two missed free throws, and four turnovers before Davis’ first make. In total, the Knights shot their fifth-worst shooting percent (0.327) of the season but turned the ball over only nine times.

“We got off to a poor start, and we weren’t able to get in a rhythm,” Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins said, per UCF’s press release. “We haven’t defended anywhere near what we expect our guys to do. Very disappointing for us. It’s not who we are.”

Davis’ initial 3 started a 10-4 run for the Knights, as he and freshman Myles Douglas scored all 10 points.

After UCF’s first points of the game, Davis was fouled on the next possession and made one of his two free throws. Douglas, then, hit an inside-the-paint jumper that was followed by Davis’ second of three 3s. Douglas capped the run, going 1-for-2 from the free-throw line. Both of Davis’ 3s were assisted by Douglas.

“Scoring hasn’t come easy for us this year. So when teams are scoring like that, it puts that much more pressure on us every time we come down court,” Dawkins said. “We need to be locked in defensively because we aren’t going to be playing into the 75-, 80-point range.”

The Knights stayed in close contention through halftime, trailing by 13 at the break, but the Owls broke away in the second. After two Davis free throws cut Temple’s lead to 11 four minutes into the final period, the Owls started a 15-2 run.

Quinton Rose and Levan Shawn Alston, who were limited to a combined four points the last time both teams met, led Temple with 19 and 13 points, respectively. They combined for 12-for-24 from the field, including 4-for-10 from 3-point range, and scored 11 points in Temple’s game-deciding run.

Nate Pierre-Louis also added 11 points off the bench on 4-for-5 shooting for the Owls. For the Knights, only Ceasar DeJesus shot above 50 percent, going for eight points on 3-for-5 shooting.

Who’s Next?

The Knights return home for their final two home games of the regular season. First, UCF will host No. 13 Wichita State University on Thursday at 7 p.m. In second place in the American, Wichita State 23-5 overall, 13-3 in conference play.

For more on the Knights, as they host a ranked opponent to close out the regular season, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.