If there was anything that jeopardized the UCF Knights (15-5, 5-2) the most during their road loss at Tulsa (12-9, C-USA 5-2), it was foul trouble. It proved fatal and the Golden Hurricane won the ball game, 66-61, Wednesday night.
UCF's dynamic duo of junior forward Keith Clanton and junior guard Marcus Jordan were both left frustrated. Each player had a lapse in composure in the game's waning moments, as the officials whistled both Jordan and Clanton for technical fouls. Both Knights finished with four fouls apiece.
Junior center Josh Crittle and senior guard A.J. Rompza also had four fouls on the night, compounding the issue.
"We saw frustration," Coach Donnie Jones said during his postgame radio interview broadcast on the UCF IMG Network. "It was a physical game. …They have got to play through that, it's part of the game. …I'm upset at our basketball team and how they handled [the technical fouls situation]. We've done a pretty good job with our composure and tonight we didn't do a good job when we needed to."
Trailing in the first half, the Knights had an opportunity to rally back and did, finding themselves able to capture a one point lead around the five minute mark of the second half.
Rompza had the hot hand in the second half after going scoreless in the first half. He tallied 11 points, but finished with only one assist on the night.
Rompza's efforts coupled with the rest of the team, though, could not get over the team over hump to make a run.
UCF's 2-3 zone defense was ineffective as Tulsa's Scottie Haralson picked UCF's perimeter defense apart by converting six-of-eight 3-points.
Clanton's had a double-double, but that also wasn't enough for the Knights on the road. He pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, and scored a team-high 15 points.
Jordan struggled, shooting one-for-eight from the field. He also missed four of his nine free throw attempts.
"Marcus had a tough night," Jones said. "He had some looks that didn't go…Marcus has just put too much pressure on himself, he's just got to let [a rhythm] come to him, he's trying to force [his shots] and you can't just put your head down and try to drive through guys when the defense is set."
The Knights will return to action at home on Saturday, playing against a Southern Miss team ranking number one in Conference-USA.
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