UCF Knights vs Cincinnati Bearcats UCF rallied past Cincinnati 66-65 in overtime on Thursday to advance to the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals. The Knights, seeded eighth, overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half and a critical missed shot by Cincinnati’s Jalen Celestine in the final seconds of extra time to secure the victory. The game, played in Kansas City, Missouri, marked UCF’s first win against top-seeded Arizona this season and set up a matchup against the Wildcats in the next round. Jamichael Stillwell led UCF with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Riley Kugel added 15 points. The Knights’ best rebounder, Stillwell, was forced to the bench early in the second half after picking up his fourth foul, leaving UCF without its primary interior presence. Despite the challenge, UCF mounted a comeback, with Bol scoring 13 points and Kugel hitting a crucial layup to tie the game at 58 with a minute remaining in regulation. Cincinnati’s final possession ended in a missed 3-pointer by Celestine, who had 11 points for the Bearcats, as the clock expired. Cincinnati, seeded ninth, took control of the game in the fourth quarter after Thomas was fouled on a long-range shot. Thomas converted both free throws to give the Bearcats a 46-37 lead, but UCF’s defense stifled Cincinnati’s offense for the remainder of the game. The Knights’ resilience was evident as they forced three consecutive turnovers from Cincinnati in the final two minutes, setting the stage for the overtime thriller. Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati’s leading scorer with 18 points and 16 rebounds, struggled to contain UCF’s relentless pressure in the final minutes. Despite Thiam’s efforts, the Bearcats’ inability to convert key possessions proved costly. Cincinnati’s coach, Wes Miller, called a timeout with 0.#cincinnati_bearcats #ucf_knights #jalen_celestine #riley_kugel #moustapha_thiam
