With just 14 seconds left on the clock in regulation, Jordan Ivy-Curry drained a crucial 3-pointer that propelled UCF into a tense overtime against Kansas during the Big 12 tournament’s second round on Wednesday.
The shot gave the Knights a glimmer of hope, but as the extra period unfolded, the team struggled to maintain momentum and energy before succumbing to the Jayhawks, 98-94.
Keyshawn Hall finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds while Darius Johnson added 22 before fouling out late in regulation. Ivy-Curry added 10 points.
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half.
The Jayhawks advance to the quarterfinals and will face No. 3-seeded Arizona on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m., which will be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.
This was the third meeting between these two programs, with UCF losing the previous two meetings: a 99-48 loss in Orlando on Jan. 5 and a 91-87 win in Lawrence.
UCF struggled to find its rhythm at the start of the game, missing its first five shot attempts and quickly falling behind 8-0 to Kansas. It was nearly four minutes before the Knights finally managed to sink their first basket at the 16:25 mark.
Meanwhile, the Jayhawks capitalized on UCF’s missteps, establishing an early 8-point lead in the half. However, the Knights began to fight back, driven by Johnson, who accounted for six of the Knights’ first 13 points, sparking hope for a comeback.
UCF tied the game twice in five minutes midway through the half but failed to take the lead as KU headed into halftime with a 40-37 advantage.
Hall had 14 points in the first half, while Johnson added 9.
The Knights tied the game at 40 coming out of intermission. However, the momentum shifted swiftly when Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, who had struggled to make an impact in the first half, erupted by scoring 10 of the Jayhawks’ first 18 points in the second half, propelling them to a 58-48 lead.
But UCF went on a 12-0 run thanks to four consecutive 3-pointers by Deebo Coleman, Thiam and Tyler Hendricks midway through the half, as the Knights grabbed their first lead at 65-64.
Ivy-Curry was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Feb. 19 against Oklahoma State. The fifth-year senior scored 15 points in the Knights’ 87-72 win over No. 11 seed Utah on Tuesday night in a first-round matchup.
Moustapha Thiam finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
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