Sellers scores 23 points to lead Central Florida past Florida International
Jaylin Sellers throws down mean and-1 jam for UCF
Jaylin Sellers gets the ball in transition and finishes through contact for an emphatic slam.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Jaylin Sellers scored 23 points and Darius Johnson scored 15 and Central Florida beat Florida International 85-62 on Monday night in a season opener for the teams.
Despite shooting 7 for 24 for 3-point range (29.2%), the Knights — now of the Big 12 Conference — shot 50% (31 for 62) overall.
After Dashon Gittens made two foul shots to get the Panthers within 18-16 with 9:36 before halftime, the Knightsoutscored FIU 25-5 and led 43-21 at halftime.
The Panthers' lone lead came when Petar Krivokapic made a layup for the game's first score. FIU shot 4 for 18 (22.2%) from 3-point range. Gittens scored 11 points and Krivokapic 10. Arturo Dean, FIU's leading scorer last year at 11.9-points per contest, finished 1-for-7 shooting and scored two points.
UCF, which will face Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas, on Jan. 6 for its first Big 12 action, has a total of 10 new players on its roster, four of which are fifth-year players.
The Knights travel to play 13th-ranked Miami on Friday.
------ Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ------ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Game Information
- Referees:
- James Hicks
- Keith Kimble
- Kevin Mathis
2024-25 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 7-2 | - | 15-7 |
| Middle Tennessee | 6-3 | 1 | 15-7 |
| Liberty | 5-4 | 2 | 17-5 |
| Louisiana Tech | 5-4 | 2 | 16-6 |
| UTEP | 5-4 | 2 | 15-7 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-4 | 2 | 14-8 |
| Kennesaw State | 5-4 | 2 | 13-9 |
| New Mexico State | 5-4 | 2 | 12-10 |
| Sam Houston | 1-8 | 6 | 8-14 |
| Florida International | 1-8 | 6 | 7-15 |
2024-25 Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 9-1 | - | 17-4 |
| Arizona | 9-1 | - | 15-6 |
| Texas Tech | 8-2 | 1 | 17-4 |
| Iowa State | 7-3 | 2 | 17-4 |
| BYU | 6-4 | 3 | 15-6 |
| Kansas | 6-4 | 3 | 15-6 |
| Baylor | 6-4 | 3 | 14-7 |
| West Virginia | 4-5 | 4.5 | 13-7 |
| UCF | 4-6 | 5 | 13-8 |
| Utah | 4-6 | 5 | 12-9 |
| Kansas State | 4-6 | 5 | 10-11 |
| TCU | 3-6 | 5.5 | 10-10 |
| Arizona State | 3-7 | 6 | 12-9 |
| Oklahoma State | 3-7 | 6 | 11-10 |
| Cincinnati | 2-7 | 6.5 | 12-8 |
| Colorado | 0-9 | 8.5 | 9-11 |
Men's College Basketball News