UCF gave everything it had, and pushed heavily favored Kansas to the brink, but fell in overtime Wednesday night to exit the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament.
Zeke Mayo had 24 points, opening the game individually on an 8-0 run, and Hunter Dickinson produced another double-double with 23 and 13 rebounds as the Jayhawks outlasted UCF 98-94. The Knights finish with a 17-16 record, though they could be selected for the NIT or the inaugural College Basketball Crown.
Keyshawn Hall led all scorers with 25 points, adding 11 rebounds while playing through a lingering calf issue. Senior point guard Darius Johnson fouled out with 1:13 left in regulation, contributing 22 points and seven assists. Jordan Ivy-Curry sent the game to overtime by drilling a straightaway 3-pointer with 14 seconds left.
Moustapha Thiam finished one rebound shy of his second straight double-double. The 7-foot-2 true freshman missed a potential game-tying short hook in the final three seconds of OT.
Kansas won all three head-to-head meetings with UCF this season — a 51-point blowout in Orlando, and a pair of heartbreakers in the middle of the country. The Jayhawks will face third-seeded Arizona at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the last of four Big 12 quarterfinals.
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Iowa State will open Day 3 with a matchup against red-hot BYU. Potential bid-stealer Colorado, the No. 16 seed, faces regular-season champion Houston, and Baylor squares off with Lone Star State rival Texas Tech.
Watch UCF vs. Kansas live on Fubo (free trial) UCF vs Kansas score updates
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FINAL: Kansas outlasts UCF in overtime, 98-94
Moustapha Thiam missed a short hook from the baseline with less than three seconds left, and sixth-seeded Kansas survived an upset bid from 14th-seeded UCF 98-94 in the second round of the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament.
The Jayhawks (21-11) defeated the Knights for the third time this season. Zeke Mayo paced Kansas with 24 points, and Hunter Dickinson posted a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. AJ Storr added a season-high 18 before fouling out with 18.2 seconds left in OT.
Keyshawn Hall had a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds for UCF, which ends its season with a 17-16 record. The Knights reached the second round of the Big 12 tournament for the second year in a row.
Darius Johnson fouled out in regulation, but contributed 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Jordan Ivy-Curry sent the game to overtime with a straightaway 3 with 14 seconds left, and he matched Thiam with 13 points apiece.
Kansas will face Arizona at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the last of four Big 12 tournament quarterfinal matchups.
AJ Storr fouls out for Kansas
AJ Storr hit Jordan Ivy-Curry on a drive to the rim, resulting in a three-point play and his fifth foul with 18.2 seconds left. UCF trails 94-93 as Zeke Mayo heads to the line.
Nils Machowski hits 3, Keyshawn Hall loses ball in transition
Nils Machowski drilled a deep 3-pointer, and UCF forced a turnover at the defensive end. But, Keyshawn Hall lost the handle in transition to give the ball back to Kansas with 27.5 seconds left and the Jayhawks ahead 92-90.
Kansas leads by 5 with 1:10 left in overtime
UCF is yet to make a basket from the field in overtime, falling behind 92-87 with 1:10 left after a transition layup by AJ Storr. Hunter Dickinson has five of the Jayhawks’ nine points in the extra period.
Kansas point guard DaJuan Harris fouls out
Both teams have lost their starting point guards.
DaJuan Harris fouled out with 3:10 left in overtime, hacking Jordan Ivy-Curry in the act of shooting in the paint. He had six points, but Harris is regarded as one of the Jayhawks’ top defenders and a primary playmaker.
UCF trails 88-86. Ivy-Curry split the ensuing free throws.
UCF, Kansas heading to overtime tied 83-83
UCF and Kansas will head for overtime after Jordan Ivy-Curry’s buzzer-beating 3-point attempt fell short of the rim.
The Knights forced KJ Adams to step on the baseline with 3.8 seconds left on Kansas’ final possession of regulation. Kansas went the final 4:36 without a field goal.
UCF will have to win the game without senior point guard Darius Johnson, who fouled out with 1:13 left. Keyshawn Hall leads all scorers with 24 points.
Jordan Ivy-Curry ties game 83-83 with 3-pointer
Jordan Ivy-Curry buried a game-tying 3-pointer from the top of the key, knotting the score 83-83 with 9.6 seconds left.
Kansas has possession in the front court after calling its final timeout. UCF has one left.
Darius Johnson fouls out with 1:13 left
Darius Johnson picked up his fifth foul with 1:13 left, and UCF trailing 81-80.
Johnson fouled KJ Adams in the post, swiping for the ball as Adams lost control and fell toward the ground.
UCF goes into the bonus, trailing by 1
Keyshawn Hall buried a contested, second-chance 3-pointer in the left corner, cutting Kansas’ lead to 77-76 with 3:16 to go. Darius Johnson will go to the line after the media timeout for a one-and-one with an opportunity to give the Knights the lead again.
Hall has 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting with nine rebounds, and Johnson has 18 points with seven assists. Moustapha Thiam is approaching his second straight double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Kansas retakes lead after Darius Johnson flagrant foul
Momentum has shifted back in favor of the Jayhawks following a flagrant foul called on Darius Johnson. Zeke Mayo made the free throws, Hunter Dickinson hit a hookshot on the ensuing possession and KJ Adams threw down a fastbreak dunk to put Kansas ahead 74-71 with less than six minutes left.
UCF, with 6 straight FGs made, extends run to 15-2
UCF has knocked down its last six shots, extending its scoring run to 15-2 and leading 68-66 with 7:52 left.
Keyshawn Hall has 21 points and seven rebounds for the Knights, who have matched Kansas shot-for-shot from 3-point range. Both teams are 10 of 22 beyond the arc.
UCF takes 1st lead with 12-0 run
Deebo Coleman and Tyler Hendricks hit another pair of consecutive 3-pointers, giving UCF its first lead of the night with 9:20 to go. The Knights are up 65-64.
UCF is 5 of 7 from long range in the half, and 10 for 22 in the game.
Kansas, UCF trading 3-pointers; Knights down 5
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Moustapha Thiam and Deebo Coleman have given UCF life again. The Knights trail Kansas 64-59 with 10:29 on the clock.
Three UCF players are in double figures. Keyshawn Hall has a game-high 19, and Thiam and Darius Johnson have 13 apiece. The Knights have made four straight field goal attempts.
AJ Storr is one point shy of a season-high with 15 of Kansas’ 24 bench points. Hunter Dickinson has a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Kansas leads by double digits for 1st time
Hunter Dickinson, Zeke Mayo and David Coit hit 3-pointers after the media timeout, and Kansas enjoys its largest lead of the night — 58-48 with 13:57 left.
The Jayhawks have made seven of 12 shots since halftime, including a 4-for-6 clip beyond the 3-point arc. Ten of Dickinson’s 13 points have come in the second period.
Hunter Dickinson heating up as Kansas leads by 7
Hunter Dickinson has seven points, three rebounds and two steals in the opening four minutes of the second half. Kansas extended its lead to 49-42 over UCF with 15:48 remaining in regulation.
Keyshawn Hall knocked down a 3-pointer on the Knights’ first possession, and he leads all scorers with 17 points. Darius Johnson has two points and two turnovers since the break, and Moustapha Thiam collected a pair of defensive rebounds.
Kansas leads UCF 40-37 at halftime
UCF weathered Zeke Mayo’s early onslaught, and heads into halftime down 40-37 against sixth-seeded Kansas in the final second-round game at the Big 12 tournament.
Moustapha Thiam buried an open 3 from the top of the key in the final minute to make it a one-possession game. Keyshawn Hall leads the Knights with 14 points and five rebounds, and Darius Johnson has nine points, two rebounds and two assists.
Mayo had eight of his 11 first-half points in the opening three minutes. UCF limited Hunter Dickinson to just three points on 1-of-5 shooting, forcing the All-Big 12 center into a pair of turnovers. AJ Storr and Flory Bidunga have combined for 15 off the bench.
UCF shot 44.1% from the field, making 5 of 15 attempts from 3-point range. Kansas pulled down 10 offensive rebounds, turning them into nine second-chance points.
Keyshawn Hall in double figures; UCF hanging with Kansas
Keyshawn Hall is up to 10 points as UCF continues to stick around against Kansas, trailing 32-28 with 3:45 to play until halftime. Darius Johnson has nine, and the Knights’ leading scorers are 8 of 15 from the field combined.
Flory Bidunga is creating havoc on the boards, pulling down six rebounds — four on the offensive glass — in seven minutes. Jayhawks guard Zeke Mayo leads all scorers with 11 points, and AJ Storr has six off the bench.
Hot shooting brings UCF back within 4
UCF has made five of its last seven shots, including 3-pointers from Nils Machowski and Keyshawn Hall, but trails Kansas 20-16 with 11:15 to go before halftime.
Darius Johnson leads the Knights with six points, adding one rebound and one steal.
Kansas has a 10-6 edge on the glass, and assists on four of its nine field goals. The Jayhawks have kept pace offensively, hitting six of their last eight.
Zeke Mayo stakes Kansas early 8-0 lead
Zeke Mayo has caught fire in the opening minutes, making a pair of 3-pointers and a floater in the lane to give Kansas an 8-0 lead with 17:16 left in the first half.
UCF missed its first four attempts from the field, prompting Johnny Dawkins to burn an early timeout.
UCF vs Kansas starting lineups
Jordan Ivy-Curry, who provided a spark off the bench with 15 points Tuesday against Utah, re-enters the UCF starting lineup. Darius Johnson, Keyshawn Hall, Nils Machowski and Moustapha Thiam keep their spots alongside the fifth-year senior guard.
Hunter Dickinson averaged 25.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in two prior meetings against UCF this season. The 7-foot-2 senior center headlines Kansas’ starting five, joined by Dajuan Harris Jr., Zeke Mayo, Rylan Griffen and KJ Adams.
UCF vs Kansas time today
- Date: Wednesday, March 12
- Time: 9:30 p.m.
- Location: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
What channel is UCF vs Kansas game on today?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: Fubo
- Radio: FM 96.9 The Game
Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) will call the game on ESPN2 from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
UCF vs Kansas history
- Series record: Kansas leads 2-1
- UCF’s last win: Jan. 10, 2024 (65-60)
- Kansas’ last win: Jan. 28, 2025 (91-87)
UCF vs Kansas predictions, picks
Chris Boyle — Kansas 85, UCF 71: The Knights fought back against Utah and produced one of their most dominant runs of the season to open the second half. Unfortunately, this is just a bad matchup with the Jayhawks’ ability to share the ball and pound opponents in the paint. This is basically a home game for Kansas as well, with its Lawrence campus just 45 minutes southwest of the T-Mobile Center.
Chris Vinel — Kansas 87, UCF 78: The Jayhawks have eclipsed 90 points in both contests against UCF’s leaky defense this year. And it’s Big 12 Tournament time. Expect Bill Self to have his club ready and motivated.
UCF vs Kansas betting odds
Game lines and odds from FanDuel as of Wednesday afternoon:
- Spread: Kansas by 10½
- Over/under: 153½
Big 12 Tournament schedule, bracket
First round — Tuesday, March 11
- No. 13 Cincinnati 87, No. 12 Oklahoma State 68
- No. 16 Colorado 69, No. 9 TCU 67
- No. 10 Kansas State 71, No. 15 Arizona State 66
- No. 14 UCF 87, No. 11 Utah 72
Second round — Wednesday, March 12
- No. 5 Iowa State 76, Cincinnati 56
- Colorado 67, No. 8 West Virginia 60
- No. 7 Baylor 70, Kansas State 56
- No. 6 Kansas 98, UCF 94
Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 13
- Iowa State vs. No. 4 BYU, 12:30 p.m.
- Colorado vs. No. 1 Houston, 3
- Baylor vs. No. 2 Texas Tech, 7
- Kansas vs. No. 3 Arizona, 9:30
Semifinals — Friday, March 14
- Quarterfinal winner #1 vs. Quarterfinal winner #2, 7 p.m.
- Quarterfinal winner #3 vs. Quarterfinal winner #4, 9:30
Championship — Saturday, March 15
Semifinal winner #1 vs. Semifinal winner #2, 6 p.m.
UCF men’s basketball schedule 2024-2025
Nov. 4: vs. Texas A&M (64-61 win)
Nov. 8: vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (75-68 win)
Nov. 12: vs. Florida Atlantic (100-94 win)
Nov. 19: vs. Tennessee Tech (80-69 win)
Nov. 22: vs. Wisconsin in Greenbrier Tip-Off (86-70 loss)
Nov. 24: vs. LSU in Greenbrier Tip-Off (109-102 loss)
Nov. 27: vs. Milwaukee (84-76 win)
Dec. 1: vs. Cal Baptist (74-59 win)
Dec. 8: vs. Tarleton State (66-51 win)
Dec. 14: vs. Tulsa in AutoNation Orange Bowl Basketball Classic (88-75 win)
Dec. 21: vs. Jacksonville (86-66 win)
Dec. 31: at Texas Tech* (87-83 win)
Jan. 5: vs. Kansas* (99-48 loss)
Jan. 8: vs. Colorado* (75-74 win)
Jan. 11: at Arizona* (88-80 loss)
Jan. 14: at Arizona State* (95-89 win)
Jan. 18: vs. Houston* (69-68 loss)
Jan. 21: at Iowa State* (108-83 loss)
Jan. 25: vs. TCU* (85-58 win)
Jan. 28: at Kansas* (91-87 loss)
Feb. 1: vs. BYU* (81-75 loss)
Feb. 5: vs. Cincinnati* (93-83 loss)
Feb. 8: at Baylor* (91-76 loss)
Feb. 11: vs. Iowa State* (77-65 loss)
Feb. 15 at Colorado* (76-63 loss)
Feb. 19: at Oklahoma State* (104-95 loss)
Feb. 23: vs. Utah* (76-72 win)
Feb. 26: vs. Kansas State* (80-76 win)
March 1: at TCU* (89-78 loss)
March 5: vs. Oklahoma State* (83-70 win)
March 8: at West Virginia* (72-65 loss)
March 11: vs. Utah in first round of Big 12 Tournament (87-72 win)
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