Carmelo Pacheco and Dior Johnson anchored a dominant offensive display for UCF, each scoring 24 points to secure a 76-69 victory over South Alabama on Tuesday night in Orlando. The Knights (3-0) overcame a sluggish start, during which South Alabama (1-2) built an early lead and held the advantage for the majority of the first half. However, UCF’s resilience shone through in the closing seconds of the first period, where Pacheco drained two critical three-pointers to cut the deficit to 34-32, setting the stage for a decisive second-half surge.
Dual 24-point performances power Knights to third straight win
Pacheco, a 6-foot-5 senior, delivered a career-best shooting performance, sinking 8 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc. His scoring prowess was matched by the all-around brilliance of Johnson, who finished with seven of 12 shooting, including four threes, along with nine assists and five steals. Johnson enters this stretch as the nation’s leading scorer with 69 points in just two games, and his playmaking ability was instrumental in keeping the Knights’ offense flowing. The duo’s synergy allowed UCF to take a 41-37 lead four minutes into the second half, a margin they never relinquished.
South Alabama fought back with Aaron Goldstein leading the Jaguars with 20 points, while Stephen Williams recorded his second consecutive double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Despite Jalen Langsy hitting a key three-pointer during a 9-0 run to give the visitors a 16-10 lead early on, UCF’s depth and perimeter shooting proved too much to overcome. The Knights’ ability to convert late-game pressure into points highlighted their growing confidence, solidifying their perfect start to the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
