UCF Triumphs Over Struggling Kansas State 80-76

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — In an intense showdown on Wednesday night, Keyshawn Hall emerged as a pivotal player by scoring 26 points, propelling UCF to a narrow victory against Kansas State, 80-76. Alongside him, Darius Garland added 23 points to the scoreboard.

    Moustapha Thiam came close to a remarkable triple-double, contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds, and eight crucial blocks for the Knights (15-13, 6-11 Big 12) who recently broke free from a seven-game losing streak with this second consecutive win.

    Kansas State (13-15, 7-10) saw competitive performances from Max Jones with 22 points, and reserve C.J. Jones with 12 points. Brendan Hausen added 11, while Dug McDaniel chipped in 10 points. Unfortunately, the Wildcats are currently enduring a four-game losing spell following their previous six-game victorious run.

    Near the game’s conclusion, Hausen energized the Wildcats with a deep three-pointer and was fouled by UCF’s Mikey Williams, leading to a completed free throw, reducing the score gap to 78-76. However, Hall secured the Knights’ win with two free throws at 11 seconds left, leaving Hausen’s subsequent three-point attempt unsuccessful.

    Benny Williams’ late-game layup extended UCF’s lead to 69-58, initiating a quick 7-0 response run by the Wildcats, closing the margin to 69-65. The Knights had dominated most of the first half, but a layup by McDaniel briefly handed the Wildcats a 29-28 lead before UCF secured a 41-34 halftime advantage with a 10-0 run.

    Looking ahead, the Wildcats will host Colorado on Sunday, while UCF is set to face TCU in an upcoming Saturday matchup.