NCAA Game Summary - UCF vs. Temple
Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Isaiah Sykes poured in 36 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the UCF Knights outlasted the Temple Owls 94-90 in double overtime during the first round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament at FedExForum.
Tristan Spurlock contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and five blocks for ninth-seed UCF (13-17), which advances to face top-seed Cincinnati. Calvin Newell chipped in 13 points and Kasey Wilson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Quenton DeCosey scored a career-high 28 points and Will Cummings tallied 25 points and nine assists for Temple (9-22). Dalton Pepper tacked on 14 points and seven assists and Anthony Lee netted 17 points.
Temple held a slim 40-39 lead at halftime after shooting an even 50 percent from the field, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range, in the first half. UCF stayed close, sinking 45.7 percent from the field, including 7-of-15 from beyond the arc.
A 3-pointer from DeCosey gave Temple a 75-70 lead with 2:31 left in regulation. Sykes answered with a 3-pointer and a jumper in the next 30 seconds to even the score. The game was still tied in the final seconds, after the teams traded free-throws, when Sykes nearly ended things. However, his apparent buzzer-beater was called off after a video review.
UCF had a lead (82-78) late in the first extra session, but Pepper hit a pair of free-throws and Cummings scored on a layup off a steal to tie things at 82-82. Sykes missed a 3-pointer as time expired to send the game to another overtime.
A 7-2 run to start the second extra session gave the Knights a bit of a cushion, but the Owls slashed their deficit to one on a 3-pointer from DeCosey with six seconds left. Newell then hit two free-throws on the other end to put UCF up 93-90. Pepper was sent to the line for the Owls on the ensuing possession, and he missed both free-throw attempts, the second of which was intentional. Unfortunately UCF came down with the ball and Spurlock split a pair of free-throws to ice the win.