UCF roars past VMI to extend winning streak

Jamichael Stillwell produced 21 points, 14 rebounds and five assists as UCF cruised to their sixth straight win Saturday afternoon, hammering the VMI 82-57 in Orlando, Fla.

A senior transfer from Milwaukee, Stillwell helped the Knights (7-1) shake off a slow start by going 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in his third double-double in the past four games.

Jordan Burks collected 14 points and five rebounds, while Themus Fulks had 11 points, five assists and five rebounds as UCF shot 40.0% and went just 4 of 30 (13.3%) from deep.

The Knights outscored VMI 54-16 on points in the paint and led by as many as 29.

Wrapping up a four-game road trip through Florida, the Keydets (3-7) dropped their sixth straight contest and shot 27.9% from the floor.

Mario Tatum Jr. led VMI with 19 points, all in the first half.

The visitors started quickly and led 11-5 in just under five minutes behind a 3-pointer by Mason Hagedorn. VMI was 4 of 8 from long range inside the first nine minutes, stretching the advantage to 19-13 on Tatum's 3-pointer.

UCF found its stride in the final seven minutes of the half, taking the lead 23-22 on Stillwell's layup at 7:10 and getting a dunk from Devan Cambridge and a Burks layup to make it 27-22 with 5:57 left.

UCF raced out on a 28-10 run to finish the half and led 45-32 at the break.

Stillwell the way for UCF in the first half with 12 points, eight rebounds and two steals as the Knights went made 44.4% from the floor and led 30-13 in rebounding.

Tatum, a Keydets freshman guard scoring 10.8 points per game, paced the way in the half by netting 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

In the second half, UCF increased to lead to 61-41 with 9:52 remaining on John Bol's putback and breezed to the 25-point victory.

--Field Level Media