UCF men's hoops fell to the Baylor Bears in a heartbreaking 87-86 loss on Saturday night at Addition Financial Arena. UCF shot a scorching 60.7% from the field after the break, compared to Baylor's 37.9%, nearly erasing a double-digit halftime deficit. With only three seconds remaining, Obi Agbim was fouled from behind the arc and brought to the free throw line, and despite a loud crowd, Agbim made the second free throw to seal the victory. Check out the full recap here.
Riley Kugel led the charge in his return from a two-game absence, pouring in a career-high 26 points. The senior guard's scoring outburst fueled the Knights' incredible second-half rally, helping UCF claw back from double digits down to nearly steal the victory late. Even though the final result didn't go UCF's way, Kugel's performance was a bright spot on an otherwise tough night.
The Black and Gold remain firmly in tournament talks, hitting their second consecutive 20-plus win season and riding their best Big 12 season since joining the conference with a 9-7 league mark. UCF faces Oklahoma State on March 3 in home finale, giving the Knights one more chance to make a statement before the postseason. Despite the loss, this team has proven it belongs in March conversations and still has time to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume.