UCF Knights Edge Cincinnati Bearcats in Overtime Thriller
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 3:15 PM ET · T-Mobile Center
UCF Knights 66, Cincinnati Bearcats 65, 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 Cincinnati Bearcats vs UCF Knights?
UCF Knights beat Cincinnati Bearcats 66-65 at T-Mobile Center on March 11, 2026.
Who was favored in Cincinnati Bearcats vs UCF Knights?
Cincinnati Bearcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -155 (about 61% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the UCF Knights triumphed over the Cincinnati Bearcats with a final score of 66-65 after an overtime period. This game showcased the intensity and competitive spirit of both teams as they battled for supremacy at the T-Mobile Center.
The Knights entered this game with a home record of 21-10, while the Bearcats boasted an away record of 18-15. UCF's recent form had been a mixed bag, as they had a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, currently on a three-game losing streak. Their average points scored was 78.6, but they were allowing an average of 82.6 points per game, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities. In their last five games, UCF managed to score an average of 84.4 points while conceding 86.0 points.
Conversely, Cincinnati had been performing better, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and a current one-game winning streak. The Bearcats averaged 77.5 points scored and only allowed 68.1 points per game during that stretch. Their last five games saw them scoring an average of 77.0 points and allowing 71.0 points, indicating a more balanced performance.
In terms of home versus away performance, UCF had a home record of 2-3 in their last five games, while Cincinnati had a stronger away record of 2-2 in the same span. This fixture was particularly noteworthy as it was a rematch from earlier in the season when Cincinnati had previously defeated UCF 92-72 on February 8, 2026. The Knights had secured a narrow victory against the Bearcats earlier in the season on January 11, 2026, winning 73-72, making this matchup a critical one for both teams.
Injury concerns were not detailed in the block, but the competitive nature of the game suggested that both teams were likely fielding their best available players. The market had Cincinnati favored by 3.5 points, according to DraftKings, with a total set at 149.5 points, indicating expectations for a relatively high-scoring game.
The conditions at the T-Mobile Center were conducive to an exciting matchup, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths. The Knights were particularly motivated to break their losing streak and defend their home court, while the Bearcats aimed to extend their winning momentum.
As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads and showcasing their offensive capabilities. The scoring plays in overtime were particularly thrilling, with John Bol contributing crucial free throws and Day Day Thomas hitting key jump shots. The final moments of the game were marked by tension as the Knights clung to their slim lead, ultimately securing the victory in a nail-biting finish.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CIN -3.5 | 149.5 o -110 / u -110 | Cincinnati Bearcats -155 · UCF Knights +130 |
Leaders
- PointsJamichael Stillwell17UCF Knights
- AssistsThemus Fulks7UCF Knights
- ReboundsJamichael Stillwell15UCF Knights
- PointsMoustapha Thiam18Cincinnati Bearcats
- AssistsDay Day Thomas6Cincinnati Bearcats
- ReboundsMoustapha Thiam16Cincinnati Bearcats
Recent form
UCF Knights
Last 10: 4-6Streak L378.6 scored · 82.6 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L62-77at West Virginia MountaineersMar 7
- L104-111vs Oklahoma State CowboysMar 4
- L86-87vs Baylor BearsMar 1
- 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
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last 10: 7-3Streak W177.5 scored · 68.1 allowed per game2-2 away
- W73-66vs Utah UtesMar 10
- L63-73at TCU Horned FrogsMar 7
- W90-68vs BYU CougarsMar 4
- W91-68vs Oklahoma State CowboysFeb 28
- L68-80at Texas Tech Red RaidersFeb 25
- W84-68at Kansas JayhawksFeb 21
- W69-65vs Utah UtesFeb 15
- W91-62at Kansas State WildcatsFeb 12
- W92-72vs UCF KnightsFeb 8
- L54-59vs West Virginia MountaineersFeb 6
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 | Cincinnati Bearcats | UCF Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-59 | 25-74 |
| Field goal % | 34 | 34 |
| Three-pointers | 11-26 | 3-24 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 13 |
| Free throws | 14-17 | 13-23 |
| Free throw % | 82 | 57 |
| Rebounds | 46 | 49 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 36 | 31 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 5 | 7 |
| Blocks | 6 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 10 | 38 |
| Fouls | 19 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 75 | 13 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-32Keyshuan Tillery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-32Keyshuan Tillery makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-32Jizzle James makes 22-foot three point jumper (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half39-34Riley Kugel makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half41-34Keyshuan Tillery makes layup
- 2nd Half41-35Jamichael Stillwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-36Jamichael Stillwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-36Moustapha Thiam makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half43-37Jamichael Stillwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-37Day Day Thomas makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half45-37Day Day Thomas makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half46-37Day Day Thomas makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half49-37Jalen Celestine makes 23-foot three point jumper (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half49-38Jordan Burks makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-39Jordan Burks makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-40Devan Cambridge makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-40Jalen Celestine makes 7-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half51-42Jordan Burks makes 1-foot dunk (Themus Fulks assists)
- 2nd Half51-44John Bol makes 8-foot jumper (Riley Kugel assists)
- 2nd Half52-44Baba Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-44Baba Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-46Jamichael Stillwell makes layup
- 2nd Half53-48Jamichael Stillwell makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-50Riley Kugel makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-50Jalen Celestine makes 24-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half57-50Day Day Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-50Day Day Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-52Jamichael Stillwell makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half58-54Jordan Burks makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-56Riley Kugel makes layup
- 2nd Half58-58Riley Kugel makes layup
- OT58-60Jamichael Stillwell makes 11-foot jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- OT58-61John Bol makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT58-62John Bol makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT60-62Day Day Thomas makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- OT60-64Jamichael Stillwell makes 11-foot jumper (Themus Fulks assists)
- OT62-64Day Day Thomas makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- OT62-65John Bol makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT62-66John Bol makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT65-66Day Day Thomas makes 25-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours UCF Knights, below favours Cincinnati Bearcats.
Venue
- T-Mobile CenterKansas City, MO
- Attendance12477
- OfficialsTony Padilla, Chance Moore, Tommy Johnson
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