ORLANDO — UCF rallied from 11 points down in the second half, and upset the 15th-ranked team in the country in Monday’s season opener.
Darius Johnson led all scorers with 24 points, and set Benny Williams up for a go-ahead dunk with 45.5 seconds left in regulation as the Knights defeated Texas A&M 64-61 at Addition Financial Arena. The visiting Aggies missed three potential tying three-pointers before the buzzer in a frantic final 10 seconds, and fans stormed the court in celebration.
UCF (1-0) has pulled off four victories against ranked opponents on its home floor since the start of the 2023-24 season, its debut campaign in the Big 12.
Four Knights finished in double figures. Jordan Ivy-Curry had 16 points, and JJ Taylor and Keyshawn Hall chipped in 10 apiece. Hall and true freshman Moustapha Thiam, who had six blocks, fouled out in the second half.
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UCF vs Texas A&M score updates
UCF completes 11-point comeback, defeats No. 15 Texas A&M
Texas A&M missed three potential game-tying three-point attempts, and UCF has pulled off an upset of the 15th-ranked team in the country, 64-61.
The Knights (1-0) finished on an 12-1 run, holding the Aggies scoreless over the final 2:13 of regulation.
Darius Johnson led all scorers with 24 points for UCF. Jordan Ivy-Curry chipped in 16, and JJ Taylor had 10 off the bench and provided a critical block of Preseason All-SEC guard Wade Taylor IV in the final minute.
UCF has defeated four ranked opponents at home since the start of the 2023-24 season.
UCF leads 62-61 with 45 seconds left
Benny Williams threw down a dunk following a Darius Johnson drive and dish, giving UCF a 62-61 lead over No. 15 Texas A&M with 45.5 seconds left.
Williams missed the ensuing free throw, giving possession back to the Aggies with a chance to retake the lead.
JJ Taylor soars for putback dunk, UCF down 61-60
JJ Taylor provided the night’s biggest highlight and sent the crowd into a frenzy with a putback dunk to cut UCF’s deficit to 61-60 with 1:18 left.
Texas A&M has gone the last 3:34 without a field goal.
Moustapha Thiam returns, but UCF trails by 9 with 4:50 left
Moustapha Thiam returned to the game and recorded his sixth block of the night, but Wade Taylor IV’s NBA-range three-pointer increased Texas A&M’s lead to 59-50 with 4:50 remaining.
Darius Johnson leads all scorers with 22 for UCF, making five threes of his own.
Moustapha Thiam helped off court with lower body injury
Moments after scoring his first UCF bucket, and recording his fifth block of the night, true freshman center Moustapha Thiam was helped off the court and to the trainer’s table with an apparent lower body injury.
UCF trails Texas A&M 49-43 with 8:42 left in regulation.
UCF in foul trouble as Texas A&M leads 46-39
Two UCF starters are sidelined with four fouls apiece as Texas A&M has stretched out its lead to 46-39 with 12:47 to go.
Moustapha Thiam and Keyshawn Hall put A&M in the single bonus early. The Aggies continue to control the paint with 26 points down low and a 25-21 advantage in rebounding.
Wade Taylor IV, Pharrel Payne give Texas A&M 5-point lead
Wade Taylor IV’s pair of three-pointers put Texas A&M back in front, and Pharrel Payne has moved into double figures for the Aggies as they lead UCF 42-37 with 15:47 left.
Payne has 14 points and six rebounds. The Aggies have a 22-2 scoring edge in the paint.
UCF’s Darius Johnson opened the second half with a three-pointer, and he has 15 points to lead all scorers.
UCF, Texas A&M tied 29-29 at halftime
UCF salvaged an 0-for-8 shooting start with tenacious on-ball defense, and the Knights are tied 29-29 with No. 15 Texas A&M at halftime.
Knights guards Jordan Ivy-Curry (11 points) and Darius Johnson (nine) are the game’s two leading scorers. UCF has forced eight A&M turnovers and taken nine shots from the free throw line, compared to the Aggies’ two.
UCF is 8 of 32 from the field (25%), including a 6-of-19 mark from beyond the 3-point line.
Pharrel Payne has eight points and five rebounds in his Texas A&M debut. Preseason All-SEC first-team guard Wade Taylor IV made just one of his five first-half attempts for three points, though he has added three rebounds and three assists.
UCF takes 28-27 lead over Texas A&M near halftime
UCF has its first lead of the game, courtesy of a three-pointer by Jordan Ivy-Curry. The Knights are on top of Texas A&M 28-27 with 3:08 left in the half.
Ivy-Curry leads all scorers with 10 points, while Darius Johnson has nine with four assists. Moustapha Thiam has three blocks on the defensive end.
Darius Johnson sinks back-to-back 3s; UCF within 5
Senior guard Darius Johnson knocked down consecutive three-pointers, shooting UCF within 23-18 of Texas A&M with 7:51 left in the first half.
JJ Taylor has a team-high seven points off the bench for the Knights. Texas A&M is shooting a far more efficient 53% from the field, compared to UCF’s 26.3% mark.
Rebounds are even at 11 apiece.
JJ Taylor makes UCF’s first 3-pointer of the season
Memphis transfer JJ Taylor sank UCF’s first three pointer of the season, ending an 0-for-7 run beyond the arc. He has four of the Knights’ points as they trail 14-6 with 11:45 left until halftime.
Pharrel Payne has four points and three rebounds for the visiting Aggies.
Cold shooting start for UCF in opening 4 minutes
UCF has opened the game with eight consecutive misses from the field, including six from three-point range. However, the Knights only trail Texas A&M 6-0 after collecting a pair of turnovers.
True freshman center Moustapha Thiam registered his first career block on the Aggies’ opening possession.
Starting lineups announced for No. 15 Texas A&M, UCF
The starting lineups have been set for tonight’s anticipated SEC-Big 12 matchup between No. 15 Texas A&M and UCF. Here they are:
Texas A&M — Jace Carter, Hayden Hefner, Wade Taylor IV, Solomon Washington, Pharrel Payne
UCF — Jordan Ivy-Curry, Darius Johnson, Keyshawn Hall, Deebo Coleman, Moustapha Thiam
Jaylin Sellers, Mikey Williams among 4 inactive for UCF
Jaylin Sellers, UCF’s leading returning scorer will not participate in Monday’s season opener against Texas A&M. Sellers, who suffered an undisclosed injury in an exhibition game against Florida Gulf Coast, did not participate in pre-game warmups.
He is among four expected inactive Knights, including redshirt freshman guard Mikey Williams, who is wearing a walking boot on his left foot. Taylor Hendricks and Cameron Simpson will also not suit up against No. 15 Texas A&M.
What channel is UCF men’s basketball vs Texas A&M on today?
Livestream: ESPN+
UCF vs. Texas A&M will broadcast on ESPN+, a subscription service.
UCF vs Texas A&M time today
- Date: Monday, Nov. 4
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
The UCF vs. Texas A&M game starts at 7 p.m. inside Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.
UCF vs Texas A&M predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Nov. 4.
Texas A&M 71, UCF 58: Continuity should play a vital role in the opening weeks of the season, and Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams stockpiled three key additions of his own in two-way guard Zhuric Phelps (SMU), sixth man-specialist CJ Wilcher (Nebraska) and efficient big man Pharrel Payne (Minnesota). UCF fans will be juiced and swaying their palm fronds behind the basket, but A&M has too much for the Knights in the opener. — Chris Boyle
Odds: Texas A&M by 4½
O/U: 143½
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