UCF uses fast start to trounce TCU

Keyshawn Hall scored 26 points and Moustapha Thiam had 16 points and five blocks to lead UCF to an 85-58 victory over TCU on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

UCF (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) returned to the .500 mark in conference play on the strength of a dominant first half. The Knights led 37-23 at the break, shooting 7-of-16 from beyond the arc, to end a two-game slide following losses to top-10 teams Iowa State and Houston.

TCU coach Jamie Dixon, who remained two wins shy of 500 for his career, needed a 30-second timeout after UCF built a 13-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. The Horned Frogs (10-9, 3-5) shot 26 percent (9-of-35) from the floor and missed all 12 3-point attempts during the opening 20 minutes.

Jordan Ivy-Curry tallied all 14 of his points in the second half to go with six rebounds and three steals for UCF, which made 13 of 31 3-pointers. The Knights also converted 18 of 22 free throws, with Hall hitting 11 of 13.

Hall, who earned a Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honor on Jan. 20, also contributed eight rebounds.

TCU made just 1 of 20 attempts from 3-point range and was outscored 20-9 in points off turnovers.

Vasean Allette scored in double figures for the 10th straight game as he finished with 15 points for the Horned Frogs. David Punch chipped in nine points and six rebounds and Ernest Udeh Jr., who attended Dr. Phillips High in Orlando, had six points.

UCF started 4-of-4 from long range, with Hall sinking triples on the Knights' first three possessions and Darius Johnson (15 points, five assists) adding a corner three.

A quick 5-0 run pulled TCU within 40-30 with just under 15 minutes left, as Isaiah Manning made a 3-pointer to halt TCU's 0-of-15 start from deep.

But Hall recorded a pair of three-point plays and Ivy-Curry scored eight points to fuel a 25-8 run that pushed UCF's lead to 65-38 with under nine minutes remaining.

--Field Level Media