UCF basketball players may still be getting to know each other, but they clicked at the right time during a 63-55 win over Auburn to tip off the 2020-21 season Tuesday night Addition Financial Arena.
The Knights (1-0) relied on suffocating defense to slow the Tigers (1-2), grinding through long first-half scoring droughts en route to a 30-21 halftime lead.
“I just really like our effort,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said after the win. “... I was really happy to see our competitiveness.”
Dawkins said he told his team before tipoff to enjoy the chance to finally play basketball again after a long pandemic-induced break.