UCF Knights Upset Utah in Big 12 Championship Opener

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a stunning upset, the No. 14 seed UCF men’s basketball team defeated the No. 11 seed Utah Utes, 87-72, in the opening round of the 2025 Big 12 Conference Championship at T-Mobile Center on Tuesday night. The Knights’ victory propels them into the second round, where they will meet the No. 6 seed Kansas Jayhawks.

UCF, having defeated Utah despite a slow start, managed to rally effectively in the second half, showcasing impressive scoring and defensive skills. Head Coach Johnny Dawkins praised his team’s performance, particularly in the second half. “I’m really proud of our guys’ effort, especially in the second half. It may have been one of the best second halves we’ve had all season. Our guys really played efficient basketball offensively, and the defense was outstanding,” Dawkins said.

UCF was led by Keyshawn Hall, who scored 23 points, including 17 in the second half. Hall also excelled at the free-throw line, converting 12 of 14 attempts. Darius Johnson followed closely with 20 points, while Moustapha Thiam recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Collectively, the Knights shot a remarkable 54.7 percent from the field and an astounding 71 percent during the second half.

The game began with UCF taking an early 7-2 lead, but Utah responded with a 14-0 run, claiming a 21-9 advantage with 10:45 left in the first half. Despite Utah’s initial dominance, including a significant rebounding lead of 24-13 in the first half, UCF managed to narrow the deficit, trailing 40-39 at halftime thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Hall.

The second half marked a complete turnaround for the Knights. Within minutes of resuming play, UCF ignited a 14-2 run, taking a 53-42 lead by the first media timeout. Their intense shooting coupled with disciplined defense stunted Utah’s efforts, allowing UCF to expand the lead to 61-43 with 13:35 remaining.

Despite a late effort from Utah, including a brief 7-0 run that cut the deficit to single digits at 67-58, UCF retaliated with a decisive 10-0 run, ultimately sealing their victory. Utah’s Keanu Dawes led the Utes with 21 points and 15 rebounds, but the absence of starting power forward Ezra Ausar, who was sidelined with a knee injury, proved critical to the Utes’ struggle.

Interim head coach Josh Eilert noted Utah’s difficulties. “First of all, congrats to Central Florida. I thought we had a great start to the game and a real sense of urgency early, but the way we shot the ball tonight, 4 for 26 from three, that’s our identity,” Eilert said. “Consequently, it seemed like they were throwing it in the ocean.”

Both teams faced challenges, but ultimately UCF’s offensive strategy and execution led them to victory. The Knights are now 2-1 all-time in the Big 12 Tournament and 32-26 in all conference tournaments, while also improving their record against Utah to 3-0. Looking ahead, UCF will face Kansas on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.