ORLANDO, Fla. — In a dominant performance, Hunter Dickinson tallied 27 points, including 21 in the first half, leading No. 7 Kansas to a decisive 99-48 victory over UCF in a Big 12 showdown. This win marks one of the largest margins of victory in the history of the Kansas basketball program.

At 7-foot-2, senior center Dickinson was particularly effective, hitting 12 of 17 shots while securing nine rebounds. He effectively neutralized UCF’s Moustapha Thiam, another 7-foot-2 player, who was constrained by foul issues and managed just four points throughout the game.

Other contributors for Kansas included Flory Bidunga with 12 points and five rebounds, Rylan Griffen contributing 14 points, while both Dajuan Harris Jr. and AJ Storr scored 11 points each. The Jayhawks improved their season record to 10-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

After Thiam picked up his second foul in the first half, Kansas went on an impressive 23-8 run. During this stretch, UCF struggled mightily, failing to score a basket for over seven minutes and missing 11 consecutive attempts. In the first half alone, UCF converted just three of their last 19 shots and finished the game with a field goal percentage of 20.6%, including a dismal 7 for 30 from three-point range.

For UCF, Keyshawn Hall managed to score 12 points but struggled with his shooting, ending the game 4 for 17. This defeat represents the worst loss on UCF’s home court in its history.

In terms of takeaways, Kansas rebounded well after suffering a narrow 62-61 defeat against West Virginia in their conference opener. On the flip side, UCF, despite their length and athletic ability, appeared outmatched following a strong season-opening victory over Texas Tech.

A critical moment in the game came when UCF trailed by 30 points midway through the second half. Kansas put on a display of athleticism, highlighted by Bidunga’s blocked shot followed by a runout dunk. Shortly after, a steal led to an open three-pointer from Griffen, extending the lead to 77-38 with around eight minutes remaining.

One notable statistic from the contest was Kansas’s dominance in the paint, where they recorded 22 offensive rebounds and tallied 37 points off second-chance opportunities.

Looking ahead, both teams have upcoming Big 12 games on Wednesday. Kansas will take on Arizona State at home, while UCF is set to host Colorado.