BYU Basketball Seeks Fourth Straight Win Against UCF in Big 12 Showdown

ORLANDO, Fla. — BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young will lead his team against the UCF Knights on Saturday afternoon in a crucial Big 12 Conference matchup. The game, set to tip off at 2 p.m. MST at Addition Financial Arena, marks the fourth meeting between the two programs, with BYU holding a 3-0 advantage from last season.

BYU enters the game on a three-game winning streak, boasting a 14-6 overall record and a 5-4 mark in Big 12 play. UCF, meanwhile, is 13-7 overall and 4-5 in conference play, with all five losses coming against Top-15 teams in the KenPom ratings. The Knights are looking to rebound after squandering a nine-point second-half lead in a 91-87 loss to Kansas earlier this week.

“They are as potent of an offensive team as there is probably in the country,” Young said of UCF. “They have got some guys who can really put the ball in the basket. They shoot a lot of 3s, play really fast, and so it will be a whoever-decides-to-play-defense-first-probably-gets-the-win type of game.”

UCF’s offense is led by Keyshawn Hall, who averages 18.0 points per game, and Darius Johnson, who scored 32 points against BYU in last year’s Big 12 Tournament. BYU counters with Richie Saunders, the team’s leading scorer at 15.0 points per game, and a deep roster that includes Egor Demin and Trevin Knell.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with Drew Fellios and Sean Harrington on the call. Radio coverage will be available on KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM), with pregame coverage starting at noon MST.

BYU, ranked 36th in the NET rankings, is seeking a Quad One victory to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. UCF, ranked 62nd, is aiming for a Quad Two win. KenPom.com gives BYU a 51% chance to win, setting the stage for a tightly contested battle.

“It is an important stretch for us,” Young said, referencing upcoming games against Arizona, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. “Obviously, playing on the road anywhere is hard. There are some really quality teams (we play) on the road.”

UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins emphasized the importance of home-court advantage, urging fans to fill the arena. “Our guys need to come out with the mindset that, hey, we gotta take care of and defend our home court,” Dawkins said. “We need our student section and Knight Nation to come out and give us the support that they have been giving us all year.”