UCF delivers upset of No. 17 Kansas in Big 12 opener

Field Level Media|published: Sat 3rd January, 16:52 2026

Dec 2, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts to play against the UConn Huskies during the second half of the game at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Jordan Burks drained a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 41 seconds left, Riley Kugel converted a three-point play, and UCF opened Big 12 play with an 81-75 upset of No. 17 Kansas on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

After Burks broke a 72-tie, the Jayhawks (10-4, 0-1 Big 12) later got three free throws from Tre White (14 points, 11 rebounds) to trim it to 76-75 with 16.2 seconds remaining.

Kugel (19 points) iced it with a layup and was fouled on the play, making the free throw for the 11th straight win for the Knights (12-1, 1-0), whose fans stormed the court after the second home victory over the Jayhawks in three seasons.

Themus Fulks totaled 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. Burks scored 14 as UCF held a 38-30 edge in points in the paint.

The Jayhawks welcomed the return of Darryn Peterson, who netted a career-high 26 points - all in the first half -- in 23 minutes, but the freshman sensation played just five minutes in the second half when UCF made its push.

Melvin Council Jr. scored 20 points, all in the second, but it was not enough as Kansas lost for the first time in five games.

Kugel energized the crowd right away with a vicious block of Peterson's layup, and Fulks then went coast-to-coast for the game's first points. However, Peterson sank a three from the wing and put Kansas up 10-7 with 16:22 left.

The Jayhawks inched away by making 5 of 8 treys in the first seven minutes for a 21-15 edge, with Peterson hitting a trio, but UCF went on a 15-5 run capped by Kugel's long ball at 6:48.

Peterson and Elmarko Jackson canned baskets for the visitors to bring Kansas back to 37-36, but Fulks' pull-up jumper put the Knights ahead 44-41 at the break.

In his first half back after a nine-game absence due to cramping, the 6-foot-6 Peterson was a handful as he made a major impact, scoring 23 points in 18 first-half minutes.

After falling behind seven in the second half's first two minutes, Kansas rallied back to trail just 52-51 with 14:20 left after Council's three-point play. He then tied it at 56 with a deep shot at 13:54.

Burks' three-ball just past the halfway point increased UCF's advantage to 65-59, but a 9-0 run capped by Council's layup evened it at 70 with three minutes to play.

--Field Level Media

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