SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Themus Fulks scored 24 points to guide UCF to a 73-71 win over Utah in men’s basketball Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Knights improved to 19-7 overall, while the Utes fell to 10-17. UCF led 41-36 at halftime and held off a late Utah rally. Terrence Brown led the Utes with 21 points, and Don McHenry added 19. UCF shot 52.6% from the field and outscored Utah 44-36 in the paint. The Knights also forced eight steals, leading to 18 points off turnovers. Utah was perfect on seven free-throw attempts but managed only two assists as a team. Attendance was 7,686.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and a decisive advantage in ball movement, the UCF Knights edged the Utah Utes 73-71 in a tense men’s NCAA basketball contest Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Knights, who led for nearly the entire game, improved to 19-7 overall, while Utah fell to 10-17. The outcome hinged on two critical factors: UCF’s overwhelming advantage in assists and steals, and a frantic final sequence that saw the Knights execute under pressure after Utah erased a late deficit. UCF dished out eight assists to Utah’s two and recorded eight steals against just two for the Utes, translating to an 18-7 edge in points off turnovers. UCF guard Themus Fulks led all scorers with 24 points, adding four assists in 35 minutes. His backcourt counterpart, Utah’s Terrence Brown, kept the Utes in contention with 21 points and four assists. Don McHenry added 19 points for Utah, while Jordan Burks contributed 14 points for UCF. The Knights established control early, using an active defense to build a first-half lead. UCF center John Bol, the 7-foot-2 freshman, set the tone with two blocks on Utah’s first two driving attempts, and the Knights capitalized on the other end. A dunk by Burks off a Jamichael Stillwell assist opened the scoring, and UCF never trailed after Bol’s jumper made it 4-0. UCF’s lead grew to as many as nine points in the first half, fueled by interior scoring. The Knights finished with a 44-36 advantage in points in the paint. Utah stayed close behind the scoring of Brown and Keanu Dawes, who had 15 points, but the Utes struggled to generate consistent offense against UCF’s length and activity. The Knights took a 41-36 lead into halftime. The second half followed a similar pattern. UCF would build a cushion, only for Utah to claw back, primarily through the individual efforts of Brown and McHenry. A 3-pointer by McHenry with 4:04 remaining cut UCF’s lead to 65-62, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The most pivotal sequence began with Utah trailing 68-65 and under a minute to play. After a UCF turnover, the Utes called a timeout with 13 seconds left. Out of the break, McHenry was fouled by Jamichael Stillwell on a 3-point attempt. With the crowd of 7,686 roaring, McHenry calmly sank all three free throws to tie the game at 68. UCF inbounded the ball to Fulks, who was immediately fouled by Utah’s Seydou Traore with three seconds on the clock. Fulks, a junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, stepped to the line and made both free throws to put the Knights back ahead 70-68. Utah had one final chance. After a full timeout, the Utes advanced the ball and found Brown for a contested jumper from the wing, but the shot missed as time expired. Devan Cambridge secured the defensive rebound for UCF to seal the victory. Beyond the final seconds, the game was won through UCF’s disruptive defense and more balanced offensive attack. The Knights’ eight steals, led by Burks’ three, consistently disrupted Utah’s rhythm. While both teams shot an identical 28 of 57 from the field, UCF’s ball movement created higher-quality looks, evidenced by their assist total dwarfing Utah’s. Chris Johnson provided a key all-around effort for UCF with eight points and five assists. Utah, which was a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line until the final moments, was ultimately undone by its inability to handle UCF’s defensive pressure and facilitate offense for others. The Utes’ two assists marked a season low. UCF now looks ahead to a road game at BYU on Tuesday. Utah will host Iowa State, also on Tuesday.

SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — A surging UCF squad looks to solidify its postseason résumé against a Utah team seeking to build on a rare road win when the Knights visit the Utes in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The Knights (18-7) enter the contest having won four of their last five, including an 82-71 victory over Texas Christian on Tuesday. Guard Themus Fulks has been instrumental, averaging 15.6 points and 6.1 assists over his last seven games. He is coming off a 14-point, 7-assist performance against TCU, while forward Jordan Burks added a team-high 23 points. UCF’s success has been built on a balanced attack and efficient play, though they have struggled away from home recently, dropping their last two road contests at Cincinnati and Houston by a combined 44 points. Utah (10-16) snapped a six-game losing streak with a gritty 61-56 win at West Virginia on Wednesday. Forward Seydou Traore led the way with 17 points, two assists and two blocks, showcasing the versatility that makes him a key player for the Utes. Guards Don McHenry and Terrence Brown each added 16 points in the victory. Despite the recent win, the Utes have found consistency hard to come by, especially on offense. They have failed to reach 70 points in six of their last eight games. Saturday’s matchup pits UCF’s potent offense, which has scored 82 or more points in three of its last five wins, against a Utah defense that held West Virginia to 56. The Knights will aim to exploit their athleticism and Fulks’ playmaking, while Utah will look to control the tempo and leverage the home-court advantage at the Huntsman Center. For UCF, a win is crucial to maintain momentum ahead of a tough closing stretch that includes games against BYU and Baylor. For Utah, it represents an opportunity to string together consecutive wins for the first time since early January and play spoiler against a top-tier conference opponent. Tipoff is set for Saturday, February 21, 2026.