UCF basketball delivers signature Space Game win over Texas Tech

Knights outrebound Texas Tech 35-23 and score 21 second-chance points in 88-80 victory

Jan. 31, 2026 at 4:31pm

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The UCF Knights delivered a signature win over No. 11 Texas Tech, 88-80, in front of a boisterous crowd that stormed the court twice. Themus Fulks had 21 points and seven assists, and both Jamichael Stillwell and John Bol collected double-doubles for UCF, which secured its third Quad 1 victory and 13th all-time against a nationally ranked opponent.

Why it matters

The win launches UCF's NCAA Tournament résumé into a different stratosphere, as the Knights continue to build their case for an at-large bid. UCF has now defeated three ranked opponents this season, including a pair against Texas Tech.

The details

UCF outrebounded Texas Tech 35-23 and scored 21 second-chance points, thanks to strong performances from Stillwell and Bol. The Knights' frontcourt duo combined for 17 offensive rebounds, with Stillwell grabbing four and Bol forcing three traveling violations with his 7-foot-2 frame. UCF finished with 65 shot attempts compared to Texas Tech's 55.

  • The game was played on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Themus Fulks

UCF guard who had 21 points and seven assists in the win.

Jamichael Stillwell

UCF forward who collected a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, including four offensive boards.

John Bol

UCF center who had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and forced three traveling violations with his 7-foot-2 frame.

JT Toppin

Texas Tech forward who had 27 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Johnny Dawkins

UCF head coach who has 11 ranked wins in his 10th season, including a pair against Texas Tech.

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What they’re saying

“We've been challenging our guys all season long about when would we play a 40-minute basketball game. Not 35, not 30, not 25. It took a 40-minute game (today) in order to be successful. I just give our guys a ton of credit for believing and continuing to fight throughout the entire game because (Texas Tech) challenges you on both ends of the floor.”

— Johnny Dawkins, UCF Head Coach

“You can tell that this is a team that plays well at home, and we had about as bad a start as you can have. I think UCF deserves a ton of credit for that. They whipped us on the glass really good, and that's kind of been our strength recently. They beat us in one-on-one plays going to the basket, and when we did make them miss, I thought Stillwell was just awesome on the glass.”

— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach

“I'm not oblivious; he's one of the top players in the country. At the end of the day, I've still got to do my thing down there. I've got to guard my yard. And that's what I tried to do, slow him down so we could get going.”

— John Bol, UCF Center

What’s next

UCF heads to No. 7 Houston on Wednesday, January 7, where they are 4-10 all-time at the Fertitta Center. The Knights then follow with a return date against Cincinnati on Saturday, January 11.

The takeaway

This signature win over a ranked Texas Tech team bolsters UCF's NCAA Tournament résumé and shows the Knights' ability to compete with the best teams in the country. The frontcourt duo of Stillwell and Bol dominated the glass, leading to second-chance opportunities that proved crucial in the victory.