UCF’s last 2025-26 season home game ends in defeat

The Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cowboys grounded the Knights’ effort to reach for the stars in overtime 111-104 during the Space Game on Tuesday night at Addition Financial Arena.

Junior guard Chris Johnson gave UCF a fighting chance after tying 94-94 with a three-pointer just moments away from the end of the game.

Though the numerous fouls called on both teams disrupted momentum and led to the Knights’ (20-9, 9-8) second straight loss in the last home game of the 2025-26 season.

A climactic contest featuring 10 ties, 13 turnovers between the two squads, and 14 lead changes relied on each side’s efficiency from the free-throw line, as the matchup saw a combined 85 free-throw attempts.

OSU (18-12, 6-11 Big 12) finished on top, recording 80% from the foul line compared to UCF’s 73%.

The Knights created distance with a 13-point lead early in the first half, but the Cowboys rallied minutes later as a three-point jumper from OSU junior guard Jaylen Curry brought the contest to a tight 31-31 tie.

Head coach Johnny Dawkins said the Knights played out of character after building an early lead, expressing that they took ill-advised shots and surrendered the ball.

“A 13-point lead isn’t much in college basketball anymore,” Dawkins said in the postgame conference. “Three empty possessions and it’s a five-point game. That’s how quickly it can turn, and that’s what happened tonight.”

The Black and Gold’s race for victory after sending the matchup into overtime was thwarted as UCF entered foul trouble, providing OSU the points needed to clinch the game.

OSU exceeded UCF throughout the perimeter with a field goal percentage of 49% and a three-point percentage of 39%, while the Knights followed, shooting 46% from the field and 32% from three.

Despite Johnson keeping UCF alive, he said everything needed to register for the Knights to come out on top in overtime.

“We have to click and play defense; defense is the main thing,” Johnson said in the postgame conference. “We play defense and that’ll translate to offense. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Now suffering two consecutive losses, Dawkins said the Knights need to understand the importance of regrouping and responding, concepts he believes UCF has performed throughout the season and must revisit.

“I thought our guys gave great effort, it’s just that we came up a little short,” Dawkins said. “They made one or two more plays than we made—when you look at the big scheme of things. Those things are tough, but there are lessons in there for our team and we have to learn them quick.”

The Knights head back on the road for their final regular game of the season against the West Virginia Mountaineers (14-13, 8-9 Big 12) at 8 p.m. on Friday at WVU Coliseum.