UCF sends Kansas State to its fourth straight loss

Keyshawn Hall scored 26 points and Darius Johnson added 23 to lead UCF past Kansas State 80-76 on Wednesday night in Orlando, Fla.

UCF (15-13, 6-11 Big 12) has won two in a row after snapping a seven-game losing streak.

Johnson has scored at least 20 points in eight games this season. Moustapha Thiam nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks.

Kansas State (13-15, 7-10) lost its fourth straight game. Max Jones led the Wildcats with 22 points. CJ Jones had 12, Brendan Hausen had 11 and Dug McDaniel had 10 points and nine assists.

UCF used a 6-0 run early in the second half to grab its largest lead to that point at 47-36 before Kansas State answered with a 9-2 run to get within four points.

Once again, the Knights responded and led by eight points at 64-56 with 9:01 to play. The lead reached 11 again, but the Wildcats used another 7-0 run to get within 69-65.

The teams traded two-point possessions until Max Jones hit a pair of free throws to make it 73-71 UCF with 2:11 left.

Then the Knights, leading 74-72, the Knights hit four straight free throws, before Hausen made a four-point play with 12.8 seconds left.

Kansas State appeared to steal the inbounds pass, but Max Jones was called for a foul. Hall made both free throws to ice the victory.

The first half went back and forth contest. UCF jumped out to the lead and gradually pulled away. The Knights stretched the lead to 21-12 with 13:18 left in the half.

The Wildcats used a 9-0 run to take a 31-28 lead with 4:54 left. The Knights missed seven of eight shots, allowing the Wildcats to get back into the game.

UCF closed the half on a 10-0 run to take a 41-34 lead.

Johnson led the Knights with 15 points in the half. Hall had 11.

Max Jones had nine points and Hausen had seven for the Wildcats.

--Field Level Media