The UCF Knights continue their remarkable season with a 11th consecutive victory, defeating the No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks 81-75. This win marks another milestone for the Knights, who now have an 8-game home winning streak at Addition Financial Arena, matching coach Johnny Dawkins’ second-longest home win streak in his career.

The game was closely contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than nine points. However, the Knights managed to secure the win thanks to key plays in the final minutes. A corner three-pointer from forward Jordan Burks and a layup and-one from guard Riley Kugel sealed the victory.

Here are three key takeaways from the game:

Battle at the Glass

Despite the win, UCF was out-rebounded by Kansas, 39-38. The Jayhawks led 21-16 at halftime, but the Knights turned things around in the second half, winning the rebounding battle 22-18. This was largely due to their offensive rebounding advantage, 8-3, which helped them gain 10 second-chance points in the second half.

Forward Devan Cambridge stood out for the Knights, grabbing all eight of his rebounds in the second half. He also scored eight points, mostly from the free-throw line, going 6-7 from the charity stripe.

Protecting the Rock

UCF’s performance on both sides of the ball was impressive when it came to turnovers. Offensively, they committed a season-low six turnovers, limiting Kansas to just eight points off those mistakes. Defensively, the Knights forced 12 turnovers, scoring 15 points off them. This seven-point swing played a crucial role in the Knights’ six-point victory.

UCF has forced double-digit turnovers in all 12 of their wins this season, showcasing their ability to disrupt opponents’ offenses.

A Team Game

Despite the win, two Kansas players were the top scorers of the game: guards Darryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. Peterson, returning from an injury, dominated the first half, scoring 23 of the Jayhawks’ 41 points. Council stepped up in the second half, scoring 20 of Kansas’ 34 points.

However, without these two players, Kansas shot just 9-30 from the floor and 2-11 from beyond the arc. In contrast, if UCF’s top two scorers, Kugel and guard Themus Fulks, are removed, the rest of the team shot 14-32 from the field and 5-14 from three-point range.

The Knights will face their first true road matchup since November 14 when they travel to Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

For more updates on UCF, check out the following:

• Another UCF Quarterback Enters Transfer Portal
• The 2026 UCF Knights Transfer Portal Tracker
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