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The UCF Knights (1-0; 0-0 C-USA) went into Tampa last night to take on their rival the USF Bulls (0-1; 0-0 Big East). The Knights handed the Bulls a bloody bashing that ended with an 18-point UCF victory! The Knights also brought about 2,000 fans into Tampa for the game. Here’s the recap of the game from UCF Athletics:

Sykes, who traditionally plays at small forward, shined running the team. He nearly recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight assists. What a way to start the season for the Knights. Led by an incredible performance at point guard by Isaiah Sykes, UCF opened the campaign with a dominating 74-56 victory at cross-state rival USF Saturday, spoiling the Bulls’ debut at the renovated Sun Dome. A huge contingent of UCF (1-0) fans were on hand to see the Knights defeat the Bulls, who won a pair of games in the NCAA Tournament a year ago, in Tampa for the first time since 1978. The Knights, who hardly trailed during the evening, shot 50.0 percent overall and finished with a 45-26 edge on the glass. Sykes was one of four UCF players who finished with double digits in scoring. Keith Clanton had 16 points and 16 rebounds.  The Knights dominated from the start. UCF led 40-24 at the break after a first half filled with dunks, offensive rebounds and incredible play at the point from Sykes.

The junior had 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and no turnovers in the opening stanza. “It was an incredible win for our program and our school,” UCF head coach Donnie Jones said. “I am very proud of this team. I thought we played a great team (game). We had four guys in double figures tonight and played very unselfishly. The thing I am really proud of is that we played a lot of guys out of position. Isaiah Sykes hasn’t played one minute at point guard in his career until tonight. I am very proud of him.” UCF shot 45.2 percent in the first half, when it outrebounded the Bulls (0-1) 25-13. The Bulls got within 12 points with 8:28 left in the contest, but the Knights responded with a huge 3-pointer from Kasey Wilson that handed UCF a 59-46 advantage. Sykes did it all for the Knights. In the first half, he found open teammates like Clanton and Sykes for dunks, and scored in a variety of ways. Holding a big lead in the second half, he slowed things down and got to the basket for impressive buckets. 

“I just stuck to the game plan and focused. Our coaches did a great job in breaking down their film,” Sykes said. “Our coaches did a good job of preparing our team.” UCF limited the hosts to a 36.4 percent shooting performance. Tristan Spurlock totaled 14 points in the winning effort, and Wilson added 13 points and six rebounds. Jawanza Poland led USF with 22 points. UCF and the Bulls will also meet on Jan. 2 in Orlando. The home-and-home series is offering the Knights a preview of the BIG EAST Conference, which the program will join next fall. On Saturday, UCF’s banner already hung in the rafters of the Sun Dome among those of the other BIG EAST programs. “It was big for us,” Clanton said of the win. “We knew that they were going to come out with a lot of emotion. Coach told us that we might not shoot it well, but the one thing that we can always control is our hustle.” 

The Knights will make their 2012-13 home debut on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the UCF Arena against Alabama State. The game is the first of a record 20 home contests this season.

The UCF Knights (8-2; 6-0 C-USA) beat the UTEP Miners (2-8; 1-5 C-USA) last night at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, inching their way up to a Top 25 ranking (the Knights hit #30 in the AP poll today). The Knights struggled a bit offensively and defensively. But in the end, a run from Latavius Murray solidified the Knights’ tough fought victory. The Knights remain atop of Conference USA’s East Division and will undoubtedly host the Conference USA Championship game on December 1st if they can wrap up a win against the Conference’s West Division leader Tulsa (8-2; 6-0 C-USA) on Saturday. That game airs on Fox Sports Network at Noon. Below, take a look at highlights from UCF’s win over UTEP from UTEP’s Point After:

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

Seeking revenge for the beat down they received last season in Dallas, the UCF Knights (7-2; 5-0 C-USA) dominated the Mustangs of SMU (4-5; 2-2 C-USA) from start to finish in a Homecoming celebratory game in-front of a crowd of almost 35,000 of UCF’s faithful. The Knights punctuated their game plan with an incredibly effective trick play in which quarterback Blake Bortles through a lateral to receiver (and former quarterback) Jeff Godfrey, who then through the touchdown pass to Latavius Murray. The fans went crazy after the play and the stadium grew more raucous by the minute! The Knights also received 15 votes in both the AP and Coaches’ Poll, indicating that consistent wins over their next two opponents (UTEP this Saturday and Tulsa a week from Saturday) will probably land them in the Top 25 and result in them being a nationally-ranked team. It would also solidify the team as the East Division Champions and secure their home stadium as the site for the Conference USA Championship game on December 1st. Below, check out Conference USA’s Point After for highlights of UCF’s 42-17 win over SMU below:

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

The UCF Knights (6-2; 4-0 C-USA) handed a crushing 54-17 defeat to the Thundering Herd of Marshall (3-5; 2-2 C-USA) on Saturday in Huntington, West Virginia. The Knights stifled Marhall’s prolific offense, which ranked #4 in the country prior to Saturday’s matchup and also put a screeching hault to Marshall’s talented quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was #2 in the nation in pass completions and passing yards. Here’s a quick synopsis from Orlando Sentinel‘s Paul Tenorio:

As Latavius Murray caught the screen pass in the third quarter and turned up field, left guard Jordan McCray came across and leveled a Marshall safety, knocking the defender out of the play as Murray coasted 20 yards into the end zone. While Murray and QB Blake Bortles stood out offensively on Saturday night, McCray’s block was an example of the play up front that spurred the offense to its best performance of the season. “I thought they did some different things that we weren’t expecting,” O’Leary said of Marshall. “Our offensive line coach, Brent Key, made some adjustments, really didn’t take a lot, just a different line call to control some of the movement they were putting on us.” 

UCF coach George O’Leary praised the unit multiple times during his weekly television show on Sunday. The adjustments worked, and the Knights controlled the game the rest of the way.  “I got to give credit to the offensive line, that’s where it starts,” Murray said after his second straight standout performance. “I think they keep blocking the way they are, there are yards to be made.” The offensive line generated a great push against Marshall, and as a result UCF racked up its most impressive numbers this year. The Knights had season-high marks in rushing yards (278), yards per rush (6.9), passing yards (290), yards per pass (13.2), total offense (568) and yards per play (9.2).

The Knights move back to campus this Saturday to celebrate Homecoming by taking on the Mustangs of SMU (4-4; 2-1 C-USA). SMU is a talented team that will most likely give the Knights their biggest remaining challenge before they head into Tulsa (7-1; 4-0 C-USA) on November 7th. Below, take a look at highlights of Saturday’s one-sided victory of Marshall from Conference USA’s Point After:

Picture and Story Highlights Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

The UCF Knights (5-2; 3-0 C-USA) bested the Memphis Tigers (1-6; 1-2 C-USA) 35-17 Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee in a Conference USA showdown that was nationally broadcasted on College Sports Station. The Knights’ defense took and gave in the win; they forced turnovers at the right times; but they also gave up a large number of yards against the Tigers, who have struggled offensively and have only collected a meager 3.3 yards per carry prior to Saturday’s matchup against UCF. The Knights take on the Thundering Herd of Marshall this Saturday at 8:00pm in Huntington, WV. The game will be nationally broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. Check-out highlights from Saturday’s gridiron clash between UCF and Memphis below:

Conference USA’s Highlights of UCF vs. Memphis

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel