If UCF coach Johnny Dawkins wished to get a greater understanding of his crew, he bought glimpse over a two-game exhibition schedule that featured No. 6 Duke and LSU.
The Knights, which open the season towards Hofstra on Nov. 3, held a double-digit lead within the first half solely to look at it disappear in a 75-68 loss over visiting LSU on Sunday at Addition Monetary Area.
“I get much more data and I get my gamers to begin to modify to the extent that we’re at,” Dawkins mentioned of the aim of the exhibition video games. “A few of my gamers have by no means performed at this degree earlier than, so there’s no manner round it. The one manner you possibly can have them perceive how intense it’s going to be, or how bodily [it is], or what the tempo goes to appear to be, is for them to face these forms of opponents. The final two video games have been deliberately designed to try this.”
UCF is coming off a 96-71 exhibition loss at Duke on Tuesday.
After a gradual begin on Sunday, the Knights went on a 13-2 run halfway by way of the primary half, serving to construct a double-digit lead earlier than LSU reduce it to 36-29 on the half.
Poor taking pictures popping out of intermission helped the Tigers go on a 10-2 run, retaking the lead at 50-42. UCF put collectively a run of its personal, tying the sport at 58 with 7:46 left.
However as soon as once more, the Knights went ice chilly from the ground, going scoreless over a six-minute stretch that allowed LSU to go on a 15-6 run to cruise to the win.
UCF guard Riley Kugel had 17 factors within the first half earlier than ending with a game-high 21 factors and seven assists.
The Knights leaned closely on their bench with George Beale Jr. and Devan Cambridge stepping up. Beale had 18 factors on 6 of 13 taking pictures, together with 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, whereas Cambridge added 6 factors and 4 rebounds.
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