Kansas Basketball Bounces Back with Gritty Win Over UCF

The Jayhawks bounce back with a big win over the Knights.
Jan 28, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self gestures to players against the UCF Knights during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Jan 28, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self gestures to players against the UCF Knights during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Kansas basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night, holding off UCF for a 91-87 win at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks leaned on their veteran leaders, as Zeke Mayo and Hunter Dickinson each poured in 24 points to guide Kansas to a much-needed victory.

Mayo was aggressive from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers on 10 attempts.

He also added nine rebounds and five assists in a well-rounded effort.

Dickinson, meanwhile, did his damage in the paint and at the free-throw line, going 10-for-12 from the stripe while pulling down seven boards.

Kansas needed every bit of their star duo’s production to fend off a relentless UCF squad.

The Knights refused to go away, keeping the game close down the stretch. But Kansas responded with timely baskets and steady free-throw shooting, finishing the night 25-of-29 from the line.

Freshman big man Flory Bidunga was once again a force inside, finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Jayhawks also got strong contributions from David Coit, who scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting off the bench, and Rylan Griffen, who played solid minutes on both ends.

With the win, Kansas moves to 15-5 on the season and looks to build momentum heading into the next stretch of conference play.


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Mathey Gibson
MATHEY GIBSON

Mathey Gibson is the Managing Editor for the Kansas Jayhawks On SI. A graduate of the University of Alabama, he has extensive experience covering major college sports, including reporting on Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like Alabama Crimson Tide On SI, The Crimson White, and Tide Illustrated. Now focused on Kansas, Gibson has covered significant events such as the NCAA Tournament, College World Series, and the College Football Playoff, bringing a deep understanding of collegiate athletics to one of the nation’s premier programs.