![\"NCAA](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/27391610.jpg\")
Oct 22, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; UCFs Themus Fulks (right) speaks to media during Big 12 Men\u00eds Basketball media day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nThemus Fulks totaled 24 points and 12 assists and made crucial late jumper, and UCF overcame a first-half deficit to reach double figures with their 10th straight win, rallying past Florida Atlantic 85-80 on Tuesday afternoon in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n The point guard made 9 of 14 shots, all five of his free throws and added three rebounds as the Knights (11-1) turned flipped a five-point halftime deficit into an early lead in the second half following an 11-point run. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Riley Kugel had 18 points, six rebounds and four steals. Jamichael Stillwell and Jordan Burks had 15 and 14 points, respectively, plus six rebounds apiece. John Bol grabbed 11 boards. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n UCF shot 49% (32 of 65) and held a 23-6 edge in fastbreak points. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Playing without its best player and leading scorer Devin Vanterpool, the Owls (8-5) got 20 points and four rebounds from Xander Pintelon, who sank 4 of 8 long shots. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Kanaan Carlyle posted 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Isaiah Elohim and Devin Williams had 11 points each. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n In the neutral-site matchup, Florida International had better jump from the start against the Big 12 school and led 17-10 early in the first half behind six points by Pintelon. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n UCF coach Johnny Dawkins called a timeout after Maxim Logue’s dunk at 11:50 to regroup his bunch after the Owls’ 9-0 run and a stretch of seven straight field-goal misses by his team. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n Amar Amkou made the half-high lead 14, 30-16, with 6:17 to play, but the Knights whittled away at the deficit and trimmed it to 35-33 on a dunk by Burks. However, the first half ended with Elohim canning a 25-footer for a 38-33 lead. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n In the second half, Fulks’ driving layup at 17:05 capped an 11-0 run as UCF led 44-38 and took control of the matchup for the first time. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Knights’ advantage was as much as seven points with over seven minutes left, but the Owls trailed just 74-72 on Niccolo Moretti’s layup at 2:56.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n With a one-point lead, Fulks sank a hook shot with 1:17 left, and Pintelon – an 89% foul shooter – missed the front end of a 1-and-1.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Fulks then fed Kugel for a breakaway dunk, and the Knights hung on for the hard-fought win.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n