Dec. 10, 2011

Box Score/ Photo Gallery / Post-Game W/Coach Craig/ Christian Laettner Breaks Down B-CU's Game

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

ORLANDO – A free throw here. A rebound there. One timely defense stop. Maybe even a call or two. It's the little things that keep a team from winning on the road. Bethune-Cookman's road woes continued Saturday night as UCF narrowly escaped a Wildcat upset bid with a 53-51 decision before 4,372 at UCF Arena.

Isaiah Sykes hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left as the Knights (6-2) handed the Wildcats (3-6) their fifth road setback of the season – four by five points or less.

“We just have to find a way to get over the top and get a road win,” said B-CU Acting Head Coach Gravelle Craig.

Sykes scored 15 points, including UCF's final eight. He gave UCF its first lead since the opening minutes at 49-48 with 3:04 left and a 51-48 lead with 1:17 remaining.

Bethune-Cookman tied it at 51 on two Anthony Breeze free throws with 51 seconds to play and a Kevin Dukes free throw with 6.2 seconds left. Sykes was fouled at mid-court and sank both from the line.

The Wildcats had the last shot, but Dukes' 3-pointer bounced off the rim at the buzzer. Bethune-Cookman led 25-14 on a Dukes 3-pointer with 6:14 remaining in the first half, but UCF closed it to a 28-22 halftime game. The Wildcats made four of their first five three-point attempts and forced 12 Knight turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

“Give Bethune-Cookman credit,” said UCF coach Donnie Jones. “They were the reason we didn't play well. They came out and executed their game plan.”

Craig's gameplan worked. The Wildcats controlled the tempo and got contributions from everyone. Breeze had a strong start with three early dunks. Paul Scotland hit all three of his first-half shots for eight points. Scotland and Dukes had the range from behind the arc, and a B-CU team that entered the game shooting 28 percent was making four of its first five.

“We had the tempo,” Craig said. “If we could control the tempo and rebound, we had a shot. UCF is good when they go and up and down the court.”

Dukes led the Wildcats with 13 points, while Garrius Holloman scored eight of his 12 points in the second half.

UCF tied the game at 34-34 on two John Crittle free throws with 14:29 remaining, but Bethune-Cookman rebuilt its lead back to 48-39 on a Raymoan McAfee lay-up with 5:36 remaining.

The Knights were without leading scorer Marcus Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan, who was serving a one-game suspension for violation of an undisclosed team rule.

B-CU travels to Baylor Wednesday night.

NOTES: B-CU's 6 3-pointers and 47.4 3FG% were both season highs ... The Wildcats have had fewer turnovers in each of the past five games...Second loss for B-CU this season in a game it led at halftime ...Holloman has led the team in rebounding five times this season ... 1992 Dream Team member and former Duke star Christian Laettner called the game for BHSN ... The B-CU Orange County Alumni chapter provided the team with a post-game meal.