TAMPA, FEB. 15, 2014 – A layup by Isaiah Sykes with 1.8 seconds remaining gave UCF a 75-74 win over USF in front 5,294 fans Saturday at the Sun Dome.
The do-it-all senior guard for the Knights scored 21 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to erase a four-point deficit at the half and even the season series between the in-state rivals at 1-1.
"We were trying to trap Sykes," said USF head coach Stan Heath on the final play. "He made a hard shot. That's what makes him a really really good player."
The sequel was as good as the original, a 79-78 overtime win by the Bulls on Feb. 5 in Orlando which was won on a free throw by Shemiye McLendon (Vero Beach) with 0.8 seconds remaining. UCF's Calvin Newell released a half-court shot at the buzzer that clanked off the back iron.
On Saturday, USF's Martino Brock (Memphis, Tenn.) attempted a 45-foot shot at the buzzer, which also hit along the back of the rim. The senior guard finished with 21 points, his highest point total at USF. He was 9-of-12 from the field.
"It was a carbon copy of the game before only we weren't able to get the stop as Sykes made it," said Heath. "Then you have both teams missing the last-second shot that nearly went in. "
USF (12-14, 3-10 American) and UCF (10-13, 2-10 American) both shot well from the field as the Knights made 50.9 percent and the Bulls shot 49.1 percent including 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from 3-point range.
"I'm proud of our guys, they gave everything they had," said Heath.
The Bulls got a solid game from their other senior, Victor Rudd as the forward finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
USF held the lead for most of the game, but trailed 67-62 with 5:43 to play following a layup by UCF's Justin McBride who scored 13 points. A layup and free throw by Brock gave the Bulls a 74-73 lead with 1:16 to play. Sykes missed a layup on the other end, but then McLendon missed a 15-foot jumper with 27 seconds remaining, which set up the final shot.
"Hopefully it's encouraging to our fans," Heath said. "There were some questions on if they were still going to battle, still going to fight. Hopefully that answers some questions that they are still going to fight."
Freshman John Egbunu (Bauchi, Nigeria) scored eight points and had three rebounds while fellow freshman big man Chris Perry (Bartow) was in foul trouble throughout the game and managed seven points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of action.
"There is still basketball to be played," Heath said. "There is still a chance for us to get to a sixth seed in the league."
The top six in the 10-team American Athletic Conference will receive a first round bye at the tournament, held March 12-15 in Memphis, Tenn.
USF is next in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at No. 13 Louisville. The Bulls are back home on Wednesday Feb. 26 against No. 24 UConn.
