Baylor Bears Edge UCF Knights in Thrilling Finish
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Addition Financial Arena
Baylor Bears 87, UCF Knights 86, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Baylor Bears vs UCF Knights?
Baylor Bears beat UCF Knights 87-86 at Addition Financial Arena on February 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Baylor Bears vs UCF Knights?
UCF Knights were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Baylor Bears narrowly defeated the UCF Knights with a final score of 87-86 at the Addition Financial Arena on March 1, 2026. This game showcased the intensity of college basketball, with both teams fighting hard for a crucial victory. The Knights entered the game with a home record of 20-8, while the Bears had a less impressive away record of 15-14. The stakes were high, as both teams aimed to bolster their standings in the league.
The UCF Knights had been in decent form leading up to this game, boasting a record of 6-4 in their last ten outings, with a current winning streak of three games. Their recent performances included victories against BYU Cougars (97-84), Utah Utes (73-71), and TCU Horned Frogs (82-71). However, they had also faced some setbacks, losing to teams like West Virginia Mountaineers (67-74) and Cincinnati Bearcats (72-92). On average, the Knights scored 76.5 points while allowing 80.0 points per game during this stretch.
Conversely, the Baylor Bears struggled in their last ten games, recording a 3-7 mark and entering the contest on a one-game losing streak. Their recent results included a loss to Arizona Wildcats (80-87) and a win against Arizona State Sun Devils (73-68). Overall, they averaged 75.7 points scored and 78.2 points allowed per game in their last ten outings. The Bears' performance on the road had been particularly challenging, with an away record of 1-3 in their last five games.
In terms of previous meetings, this matchup marked the second encounter between the two teams. In their first meeting during the 2025 season, the Knights fell to the Bears with a score of 76-91. This history may have added to the pressure as UCF sought to avenge that earlier defeat.
Injuries played a role in the dynamics of the game, although specific details about player absences were not provided. However, both teams were likely affected by the physical demands of the season as they approached the final stretch.
As for the betting lines, DraftKings set the odds with UCF favored by 1.5 points, indicating a competitive matchup. The total points line was set at 159.5, suggesting expectations for a high-scoring affair. The moneyline reflected UCF at -125.0 and Baylor at 105.0, further emphasizing the tight nature of the contest.
The game unfolded under standard conditions for college basketball, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. Viewers were treated to a thrilling display of skill, highlighted by key scoring plays in the second half. Notable moments included a driving layup by Cameron Carr, which helped Baylor maintain a slim lead, and crucial free throws from Devan Cambridge that kept UCF in contention until the final moments.
Ultimately, the Bears' ability to execute in critical situations proved decisive, allowing them to escape with a narrow victory over the Knights. The final score of 87-86 not only highlighted the competitiveness of the matchup but also left fans eager for the next chapter in the rivalry.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UCF -1.5 | 159.5 o -115 / u -105 | Baylor Bears +105 · UCF Knights -125 |
Leaders
- PointsRiley Kugel26UCF Knights
- AssistsThemus Fulks10UCF Knights
- ReboundsJohn Bol7UCF Knights
- PointsCameron Carr26Baylor Bears
- AssistsObi Agbim7Baylor Bears
- ReboundsTounde Yessoufou8Baylor Bears
Recent form
UCF Knights
Last 10: 6-4Streak W376.5 scored · 80 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W97-84at BYU CougarsFeb 25
- W73-71at Utah UtesFeb 22
- W82-71vs TCU Horned FrogsFeb 18
- L67-74vs West Virginia MountaineersFeb 14
- L72-92at Cincinnati BearcatsFeb 8
- L55-79at Houston CougarsFeb 5
- W88-80vs Texas Tech Red RaidersJan 31
- W79-76vs Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 28
- W95-86at Colorado BuffaloesJan 24
- L57-87at Iowa State CyclonesJan 21
Baylor Bears
Last 10: 3-7Streak L175.7 scored · 78.2 allowed per game1-3 away
- L80-87vs Arizona WildcatsFeb 25
- W73-68vs Arizona State Sun DevilsFeb 21
- L74-90at Kansas State WildcatsFeb 18
- L71-82vs Louisville CardinalsFeb 14
- L94-99vs BYU CougarsFeb 11
- L69-72at Iowa State CyclonesFeb 7
- W86-67vs Colorado BuffaloesFeb 5
- W63-53at West Virginia MountaineersJan 31
- L57-67at Cincinnati BearcatsJan 28
- L90-97vs TCU Horned FrogsJan 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Baylor Bears | UCF Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-64 | 31-60 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 9-23 | 8-18 |
| Three-point % | 39 | 44 |
| Free throws | 18-22 | 16-19 |
| Free throw % | 82 | 84 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 18 |
| Assists | 19 | 22 |
| Steals | 3 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 40 |
| Fouls | 15 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 77 | 12 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half56-50John Bol makes layup
- 2nd Half56-52Jordan Burks makes layup (Riley Kugel assists)
- 2nd Half58-52Dan Skillings Jr. makes layup (Obi Agbim assists)
- 2nd Half58-55Riley Kugel makes 25-foot three point jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half60-55Isaac Williams IV makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half60-58Jordan Burks makes 24-foot three point jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half61-58Tounde Yessoufou makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-58Tounde Yessoufou makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-58Michael Rataj makes layup
- 2nd Half65-58Cameron Carr makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-58Cameron Carr makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-61Riley Kugel makes 26-foot three point jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half68-61Dan Skillings Jr. makes driving layup (Michael Rataj assists)
- 2nd Half69-61Dan Skillings Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half69-62Riley Kugel makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Riley Kugel makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-63Tounde Yessoufou makes layup
- 2nd Half71-65Devan Cambridge makes 3-foot dunk (Chris Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half73-65Tounde Yessoufou makes layup (Isaac Williams IV assists)
- 2nd Half76-65Dan Skillings Jr. makes 28-foot three point jumper (Obi Agbim assists)
- 2nd Half76-66John Bol makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-67John Bol makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-67Obi Agbim makes 12-foot jumper (Michael Rataj assists)
- 2nd Half78-69Riley Kugel makes 12-foot pullup jump shot (Jamichael Stillwell assists)
- 2nd Half79-69Cameron Carr makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-69Cameron Carr makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-71Devan Cambridge makes 2-foot dunk (Riley Kugel assists)
- 2nd Half80-73Jamichael Stillwell makes layup
- 2nd Half80-75Chris Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half80-77Riley Kugel makes 18-foot jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half80-78John Bol makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-78Michael Rataj makes layup (Obi Agbim assists)
- 2nd Half84-78Cameron Carr makes driving layup (Isaac Williams IV assists)
- 2nd Half84-80Devan Cambridge makes layup (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half84-82Riley Kugel makes layup (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half84-84Jamichael Stillwell makes layup (Riley Kugel assists)
- 2nd Half86-84Obi Agbim makes 21-foot jumper
- 2nd Half86-85Devan Cambridge makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half86-86Devan Cambridge makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-86Obi Agbim makes free throw 2 of 3
Win probability
Above the line favours UCF Knights, below favours Baylor Bears.
Venue
- Addition Financial ArenaOrlando, FL
- Attendance8735
- OfficialsGary Maxwell, Keith Patterson, Dean De Selle
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond