UCF strings together 5th consecutive win with rout of Evansville

UCF not only won its fifth consecutive game Wednesday night, but the Knights held their opponent to 59 or fewer points for the fifth time in a row, too.

A 76-56 win against Evansville (1-4) at Addition Financial Arena was achieved with four scorers in double figures: Ithiel Horton (16 points), Taylor Hendricks (16 points), Brandon Suggs (11 points) and Thierno Sylla (10 points).

Hendricks and Sylla are freshmen.

“We knew it was going to be a tough test,” coach Johnny Dawkins said. “I thought early they made it difficult for us. I give them credit for how they defended and their game plan, and we have to be better. We have to start games off better and we have to learn from this experience.”

The Knights (5-1) overcame an 8-2 deficit as Sylla made two 3-pointers to spark them on a 12-3 run.

Sylla, a 6-11 center who’d only played 14 total minutes entering the game, was forced into action because of injuries to forwards C.J. Walker and Michael Durr.

“We have so many moving pieces right now. C.J. is out again, so we have to work through that,” Dawkins said. “Michael Durr, he was out tonight, you’re working through that. Now Sylla’s having to log more minutes and play a different position than he normally practices. Through all of it, I thought our guys did a good job of adjusting and just listening to what we had to say and trying to execute.”

Hendricks also had 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

The Aces trimmed the defict to 35-34 in the second half, but Horton ignited a 15-5 run with a 3. They cut the deficit again, down to 58-51 with 8:13 to play, only to have the Knights shut the door for good.

UCF held them to 5 points the rest of the way to turn a competitive matchup into a blowout. Horton and Hendricks combined to score 19 of the Knights’ final 23 points.

Next up is a home game vs. Miami at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Dawkins is 21-5 against instate opponents.