UCF vs. Houston: How to Watch, History & Knights’ Recent Successes

UCF Faces Tough Test Against Houston, Riding Momentum from Recent Victories

ORLANDO, FL – The UCF Knights men’s basketball team prepares for a challenging matchup against the Houston Cougars on Wednesday, February 4, at 7 p.m. ET, televised on FS1. The game will also be broadcast on FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game, with Marc Daniels handling play-by-play.

The Knights (17-4 6-3 in Big 12 play) are coming off an impressive 88-80 victory over No. 11 Texas Tech, marking their second ranked win of the season. UCF controlled the game against the Red Raiders, leading for 36 minutes and six seconds and dominating the glass with a 35-23 rebound advantage while forcing 13 turnovers.

John Bol played a key role in the win over Texas Tech, achieving a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 6-for-8 from the field. A late fastbreak dunk by Chris Johnson sealed the victory for UCF.

UCF’s success isn’t solely reliant on scoring prowess; the team excels at controlling the game’s tempo. The Knights are undefeated (12-0) when leading at halftime and boast a perfect 13-0 record when ahead with 10 minutes remaining. Their defense has also been a significant strength, holding opponents under 80 points in 11 games, resulting in an 11-0 record in those contests. UCF remains undefeated (16-0) when they win the rebounding battle.

Historical Challenges Against Houston

Historically, UCF has struggled against Houston, having lost the previous 10 matchups. Their last victory against the Cougars came on March 9, 2019, at Houston. Since that win, Houston has been dominant at home, posting a 106-6 record, with three of those losses occurring in conference games.

Since joining the Big 12, Houston has only lost one home game, currently maintaining a 16-game home winning streak. When UCF last defeated Houston, they snapped a 33-game home win streak held by the Cougars.

Recent Comeback Wins Showcase Resilience

UCF demonstrated remarkable resilience in a recent 79-76 victory over Arizona State, rallying from a 12-point deficit in the final six minutes of regulation. Jordan Burks sealed the win with a clutch three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining and a subsequent steal with 11 seconds left.

The Knights also secured a 95-86 win at Colorado, showcasing a shooting masterclass with 61.1% accuracy from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc – a program best during Big 12 conference play. Five players scored in double figures, led by Riley Kugel’s 22 points and a career-high six three-pointers. A bank shot three-pointer by Kugel with 0.6 seconds on the shot clock proved pivotal in securing the victory.

Individual Accolades and Rising Rankings

Themus Fulks has been recognized for his outstanding performance, earning Big 12 starting five honors in weeks 11 and 13. He initially earned the honor after helping UCF secure its first Big 12 road win and scoring a career-best 30 points against No. 1 Arizona. Fulks also recorded 13 points and 12 assists in an 82-73 win at Kansas State, becoming the first Knight with five double-digit assist games in a season.

Against Arizona, Fulks tallied 30 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, becoming only the fourth Division I player in the last 30 years to achieve at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists against a No. 1 opponent.

UCF debuted at No. 25 in the Week 9 Associated Press Top 25 poll on February 2, marking its first appearance in the poll since 2019. This ranking comes during the best start of head coach Johnny Dawkins’ tenure, with the Knights holding a 12-1 record at that time. UCF is currently ranked 37th in the NCAA NET, climbing as high as 30th, its best NET ranking since joining the Big 12. They are also 45th in KenPom, nearing the program’s all-time best of No. 34, last reached in 2019.

Riley Kugel was also named to the Big 12 starting five for Week Nine, following a standout performance against then-No. 17 Kansas, where he scored 19 points and sealed the victory with an and-one play.

The Knights’ remaining schedule includes four quad 1 games and six quad 2 games. UCF is currently 4-4 in quad 1 games, having swept Texas A&M in a home-and-home series, defeating No. 17 Kansas at home, winning at Colorado, and defeating #11 Texas Tech.