With coach Johnny Dawkins getting another leader back in his lineup, things are looking up as UCF prepares to host Arizona State on Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla.
The Knights (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) recently welcomed back Jamichael Stillwell after he missed the squad’s game at then-No. 9 Iowa State, an 87-57 debacle of a loss to the Cyclones.
Led by top scorer Riley Kugel (15 points per game) and playmaker Themus Fulks (7.3 assists), UCF saw the 6-foot-8 Stillwell back on the court after a leg injury and play 30 productive minutes Saturday at Colorado.
Stillwell posted 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, grabbed seven boards and dished out four helpers in the 95-86 road win, as the Knights were triumphant for the third time in five contests.
“You know, he felt good enough, and he was able to come out, and he’s big for us because, you know, he’s like our leader,” Dawkins said. “He’s kind of our heart and soul here (with) Themus, Devan (Cambridge) and Riley. Those guys are those senior leaders that we have.
“We really missed him, and it was good to have him back.”
The Sun Devils (11-9, 2-5) have dropped three of their last four games but secured an 82-68 win at home against Cincinnati on Saturday, led by Maurice Odum’s 33 points, his second-highest scoring output this season.
Odum, who produces 17.2 points per game, made 6 of 11 shots from long range and recorded eight assists, five rebounds and three steals.
“(Maurice) and I had a good discussion about concentrating on his game,” coach Bobby Hurley said of Odum, who also leads the team with 6.6 assists per game. “He wants to win so badly, I think he was pressing a little bit in a number of different ways. … He connected when he had his opportunities. The back-to-back 3s he hit in the second half were huge.”
Hurley credited his entire team for responding well after going 1-7 in the previous eight outings.
“It was probably the best we’ve been concentrated and focused, and we looked like the team we were early in the year,” added the 11th-year Arizona State coach.
Top rebounder Massamba Diop (5.8) averages 13.8 points, while Anthony Johnson chips in 13.7.
Last season in Tempe, UCF won the lone meeting between the teams, 95-89.
–Field Level Media
