National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Central Florida 75, Texas Tech 61
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 24, 2024
Where: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Florida
Officials: # Keith Kimble, # Jeb Hartness, # Chris Merlo
Attendance: 8711

Darius Johnson scored 16 points and UCF snapped a four-game losing streak with a 75-61 victory over No. 23 Texas Tech on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

Jaylin Sellers added 15 points as the Knights (14-12, 5-9 Big 12) won over a ranked opponent for just the third time this season.

The Red Raiders (19-8, 8-6) fell to 2-6 in true road games despite a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds from Darrion Williams and 18 points from Kerwin Walton.

Down 63-52 with 5:20 to go and looking to overcome its fifth double-digit deficit of the year for a win, the comeback hopes stalled during a drought of seven-plus minutes without a field goal. Texas Tech missed eight of its final 10 field goals in the loss.

The Knights went into halftime leading 36-32 and got two big jumpers from Shemarri Allen to help stretch their lead to 40-34 with 16:43 to go.

Walton had the Red Raiders within 53-50 after hitting a jumper midway through the half but Johnson buried two clutch 3-pointers late in the half, including one with 5:20 remaining that put the Knights up 11.

A back and forth affair early, though with Texas Tech always staying a step ahead, the Knights took their first lead of the day on a layup by DeMarr Langford with 9:39 left. The shot was part of an 8-0 run that forced the Red Raiders to call a timeout after Antwann Jones scored inside a little over a minute later.

Walton didn't let the momentum shift last long, burying back-to-back 3-pointers as Texas Tech pushed back in front 27-26 with 3:14 remaining. His play in the first half was instrumental as he hit three 3-pointers and scored 12.

But back came the Knights, who ended a nearly four-minute field goal drought with a 3-pointer from Sellers with 2:55 to go, sparking an 8-0 run where Johnson also connected from long range as UCF took a 34-27.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Texas Tech   Central Florida
Darrion Williams 19 Scoring Darius Johnson 16
Joe Toussaint 3 Assists Darius Johnson 5
Darrion Williams 11 Rebounds Thierno Sylla 7
Darrion Williams 6 Free Throws Made C.J. Walker 4
Joe Toussaint 2 Steals Darius Johnson 4
Darrion Williams 1 Blocks Ibrahima Diallo 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Texas Tech 61 37.0 8-28 13-20 12 31 2 4 14
Central Florida 75 46.6 6-12 15-19 10 34 3 11 8