Taylor scores 21 as UCF routs Grambling 70-45

Dec 8, 2018, 08:28 pm

ORLANDO, Fla. -- B.J. Taylor scored 21 points and Central Florida got back in the win column with some stingy defense in a 70-45 victory over Grambling on Saturday.

Taylor hit three 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds for the Knights (7-2), who saw a five-game win streak end last time out in a 64-62 overtime loss to Missouri. Aubrey Dawkins had 11 points and eight rebounds and Tacko Fall had seven points, eight boards and five blocked shots. Falls has 30 blocks in nine games this season.

The Tigers, who trailed 30-23 at halftime, shot just 23 percent from the field in the second half, missed all eight of their 3-point tries and trailed by double digits after Dawkins' 3-pointer with 15:14 left to play. UCF has held opponents to 38.1-percent shooting from the floor over the past two seasons -- tops in the nation -- under coach Johnny Dawkins.

Dallas Polk-Hillard was the lone Tigers to score in double figures with 11 points. Grambling (4-5) shot just 29 percent from the floor and 19 percent from 3-point range.

UCF was playing the first of four straight home games to close out nonconference play. Grambling won the only other meeting in 1992.