UCF knocked off 13th-ranked Texas A&M in a thrilling 64-61 nail-biter on Monday night.
UCF began its second season in the Big 12 on a challenging note, trailing 8-0 in the first five minutes, prompting Coach Dawkins to call an early timeout. Six minutes into the game, Junior Guard Keyshawn Hall scored UCF’s first points with an electrifying fastbreak dunk, energizing the team. The timeout paid off as the Knights found their rhythm midway through the first half, forcing Texas A&M into four turnovers within four minutes. UCF’s defense displayed resilience, which the offense mirrored. However, the first half ended on a rough stretch, with UCF missing seven consecutive shots in the final four minutes due to fouls, turnovers, and missed opportunities.
The half concluded with a 29-29 tie, with the Knights shooting 25% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc, while the Aggies shot 44.4% from the field and 27.3% from three-point range.
The second half began with both teams exchanging shots and free throws, keeping the game close. Texas A&M, however, started to pull ahead, building a 10-point lead at 49-39 midway through the half, prompting Coach Dawkins to call another timeout. The Aggies then went on a 7-0 run while UCF hit a scoring drought. The Knights began to slip, as missed free throws, turnovers, and fouls gave the Aggies an advantage—but the band and student section kept Addition Arena roaring.
With under four minutes remaining, the Aggies led 60-52, while UCF’s defensive anchor, Moustaph Thiam, had already registered six blocks before fouling out. In the final minute, momentum swung in UCF’s favor as Texas A&M entered a three-minute scoring drought. UCF capitalized, taking a 62-61 lead over the 13th-ranked Aggies with just 45 seconds left, and the arena erupted with championship-level energy. The Knights’ defense swarmed the Aggies, forcing them to miss their last 10 shots in the final two minutes.
After the game, Coach Johnny Dawkins praised his team, saying, “We’ve got guys that love to compete and guys that love to win.”
Senior Darious Johnson was asked about the last four minutes and said, “Just had to get stops down the stretch.” When asked about the rough start, he added, “We fell in love with the three and said, ‘Let’s see how they defend the rim.'”
The Knights held on as Texas A&M’s four last-second shot attempts fell short, marking a thrilling 1-0 start to the season.