Darius Johnson scored 16 points and UCF snapped a four-game losing streak with a 75-61 victory over No. 23 Texas Tech on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
Jaylin Sellers added 15 points as the Knights (14-12, 5-9 Big 12) won over a ranked opponent for just the third time this season.
The Red Raiders (19-8, 8-6) fell to 2-6 in true road games despite a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds from Darrion Williams and 18 points from Kerwin Walton.
Down 63-52 with 5:20 to go and looking to overcome its fifth double-digit deficit of the year for a win, the comeback hopes stalled during a drought of seven-plus minutes without a field goal. Texas Tech missed eight of its final 10 field goals in the loss.
The Knights went into halftime leading 36-32 and got two big jumpers from Shemarri Allen to help stretch their lead to 40-34 with 16:43 to go.
Walton had the Red Raiders within 53-50 after hitting a jumper midway through the half but Johnson buried two clutch 3-pointers late in the half, including one with 5:20 remaining that put the Knights up 11.
A back and forth affair early, though with Texas Tech always staying a step ahead, the Knights took their first lead of the day on a layup by DeMarr Langford with 9:39 left. The shot was part of an 8-0 run that forced the Red Raiders to call a timeout after Antwann Jones scored inside a little over a minute later.
Walton didn’t let the momentum shift last long, burying back-to-back 3-pointers as Texas Tech pushed back in front 27-26 with 3:14 remaining. His play in the first half was instrumental as he hit three 3-pointers and scored 12.
But back came the Knights, who ended a nearly four-minute field goal drought with a 3-pointer from Sellers with 2:55 to go, sparking an 8-0 run where Johnson also connected from long range as UCF took a 34-27.
–Field Level Media