UCF wins Bahamas Championship
As of Monday, November 21, 2022
#By RENALDO DORSETT
#Tribune Sports Reporter
#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
#THE Central Florida Knights began 10 days of NCAA Division I basketball at the Baha Mar Convention Centre by winning the “Bahamas Championship” tournament title.
#The Knights defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 57-50 last night in the finale.
#Taylor Hendricks was the lone UCF player in double figures with 19 points.
#In a low scoring first half, the Knights’ defence forced 11 turnovers and limited Santa Clara to just 21 percent shooting from the field.
#They took a 25-16 lead at the half and never trailed.
#In game one, the Knights overcame a 17-point deficit and defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 60-56 in overtime.
#Head coach Johnny Dawkins said it set the tone for the weekend trip.
#It was the second overtime game for UCF on the young season.
#“What a game, four games in and we have two overtime games,” Dawkins said. “Our guys really had to find a way to dig deep to find a way to win. I’m just proud of our guy’s effort.
#“I thought they played hard, it took us a while to adjust to their length and athleticism.
#“As the game wore on, I feel like we got a little more comfortable and we got back to playing UCF basketball. What a good win for our programme.”
#In the third-place game, Oklahoma State defeated DePaul 82-78 on Sunday afternoon.
#The Knights’ appearance at the Baha Mar Championship was its first time back in The Bahamas since their 2011 appearance at the Battle 4 Atlantis. The women take the floor next with the tip-off of the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship today.
#Five of the eight teams in the field were participants in last year’s NCAA Tournament, including Bahamian native Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss programme.
#The action concludes on Thanksgiving weekend with the eight-team Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship.
#The men’s tournament, which is designed strictly for mid-major NCAA Division I programmes, is in its fifth iteration after launching in 2017.
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