ORLANDO — For 36 minutes and six seconds, the UCF Citronauts controlled the game on Saturday afternoon. And by the final buzzer inside Addition Financial Arena, there was no mistaking where they belong, as UCF knocked off No. 11 Texas Tech in a decisive 88-80 victory.
The victory lifts the Citronauts to 17-4 overall, the most wins through the month of January in program history, and 6-3 in Big 12 play, winning three consecutive Big 12 games for the first time since joining the conference ahead of the 2023-24 season. The victory also marks the program’s first win over a No. 11-ranked opponent, snapping an 0-6 mark in such matchups before Saturday afternoon.
The loss ended a 5-game winning streak for Texas Tech, including wins over nationally-ranked Houston and BYU, and slips to 16-5 and 6-2. UCF asserted itself on the glass with a double-digit rebounding advantage (35-23) and matched that presence with tight ball security, forcing 13 turnovers while surrendering only six, an effort that underscored their control throughout.
"....I thought our guys played a full 40-minute basketball game,” said UCF Head Coach Johnny Dawkins. “We’ve challenged them all season about playing 40 minutes — not 35, not 30 — and tonight it took all 40 to be successful. I give our guys a lot of credit for believing and continuing to fight. Texas Tech challenges you on both ends of the floor, and I thought our guys responded every time they had to.”
The Citronauts’ defense wasted no time making its presence felt, clamping down on Texas Tech in the opening stretch to force a three-minute scoring drought and race out to a 7-2 lead by the 16:51 mark. But the Red Raiders eventually found their footing on the defensive end of the hardwood, forcing back-to-back stops and on a trio of jumpers from JT Toppin (game high 27 points), knotted the game at 20 with 10:05 left in the opening frame.
Texas Tech led three times early, 2-0, 24-22 and 26-24. But after grabbing its final lead, the guests never led after the 8:16 mark of the first half.
Space U found its answer to the surge behind John Bol, who dominated the early minutes with eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting effort while hauling in five rebounds in the opening nine minutes. The 7-foot-2 sophomore center, who tallied a career-high 14 points on the day, was a major force for the ‘Nauts throughout the game, spearheading the team’s efforts on the glass to record his second double-double of the season with 10 boards.
However, UCF could not put the Red Raiders away, taking a 44-40 halftime lead and never holding more than a 9-point advantage twice, the final time at 64-55 with 13:50 remaining.
Even with Texas Tech’s best effort to push itself out in front of the ‘Nauts, it soon found itself suffocated once more by UCF’s defensive pressure, falling into yet another three-minute scoring dry spell. Using the offensive lull to their advantage, the Citronauts built their lead back out to seven, 34-27, sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Carmelo Pacheco and Riley Kugel with just over five minutes to play before halftime. A steal in the final minute from Kugel, followed by two free throws from Jamichael Stillwell, gave the Citronauts a four-point edge, 44-40, headed into the break.
Momentum stayed firmly on UCF’s side to open the second half, as Bol scored five quick points to stretch the lead to seven, 57-50, just five minutes in. Texas Tech responded with urgency, however, forcing a brief Citronauts scoring drought while knocking down six consecutive field goals to pull within four, 66-62, with 11:29 left.
TTU made a final push late, closing to within one at 68-67 at 10:21 and two, 81-29, with 1:55 left, but the Citronauts were able to finish strong behind four points from Themas Fulks and three from Chris Johnson, who came up huge, scoring all seven of his points in the final 6:09, including a dunk with 28-seconds left off a long pass from Kugel that all but clinched the victory.
UCF only played eight players and each contributed at least four points.
Fulks poured in a team-high 21 points, while dishing out seven assists. Jordan Burks also added in double-digits of his own, contributing 17 points on an efficient five-of-seven mark from the floor.
In addition to Bol, Jamichael Stillwell also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
An ailing Kugel was held to nine points and three assists, Pacheco had six on a pair of crucial 3-pointers and a foul-plagued Devon Cambridge, who played at Texas Tech last year, netted four.
Up Next:
The squad will travel to Houston, Texas, to take on the No. 10 ranked Houston Cougars tonight (Wednesday) inside the Fertitta Center for a 7 p.m. tip. The game will be broadcast live on FS1. The Knights will then head to Fifth Third Arena on Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on rival Cincinnati on the CBS Sports Network. Both games will also be on the radio at 96.9 (FM) The Game.
Here is the box score:
Saturday, January 31, 2026
at Addition Financial Arena
UCF 88, Texas Tech 80
Texas Tech (16-5, 6-2 Big 12)
JT Toppin 12-17 1-3 27, Christian Anderson 5-10 4-4 17, Donovan Atwell 4-7 0-0 11, LeJuan Watts 3-9 1-2 9, Jaylen Petty 2-6 1-2 5, Josiah Moseley 3-3 0-1 6, Tyeree Bryan 1-2 0-0 3, Luke Bamgboye 1-1 0-0 0. Totals _ 31-55 7-12 80.
UCF (17-4, 6-3 Big 12)
Themus Fulks 9-23 2-2 21, Jordan Burks 5-7 6-6 17, John Bol 6-8 2-3 14, Jamichael Stillwell 3-8 3-4 10, Riley Kugel 2-9 4-5 9, Chris Johnson 3-5 1-2 7, Carmelo Pacheco 2-3 0-0 6, Devan Cambridge 2-2 0-0 4. Totals _ 32-65 18-22 88.
Halftime Score _ UCF 44, TTU 40. 3-point Field Goals _ TTU 11-29 (Anderson 3-8, Atwell 3-6, Watts 2-6, Toppin 2-4, Bryan 1-2, Petty 0-3); UCF 6-13 (Pacheco 2-3, Kugel 1-4, Fulks 1-3, Burks 1-1, Stillwell 1-1, Johnson 0-1). Team Fouls _ TTU 15; UCF 11. Fouled Out _ none. Technical Fouls _ UCF (Cambridge). Rebounds _ TTU 23 (Toppin 10); UCF 35 (Bol, Stillwell 10 each). Turnovers _ TTU 13; UCF 6. Assists _ TTU 19 (Anderson 9, Petty 4, Toppin, Watts 2 each); UCF 19 (Fulks 7, Stillwell 4, Kugel 3, Johnson 2). Steals _ TTU 3 (Toppin, Anderson, Petty); UCF 6 (Kugel 3, Johnson 2). Blocked Shots _ TTU 3 (Bamgboye 2); UCF 1 (Bol).
