Kugel’s 19 points, Stillwell’s 18 lift UCF over Kansas State 82-73

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Riley Kugel scored 19 points, Jamichael Stillwell added 18 and UCF held off Kansas State’s comeback attempt to win 82-73 Wednesday night.

The Knights (14-2, 3-1 Big 12) shot 53 percent from the field and 47 percent from beyond the arc. Themus Fulks had 13 points (6-of-11 shooting) and dished out 12 assists for his fifth game with 10 or more assists this season. Devan Cambridge scored 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting.

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UCF narrowly won the rebounding battle, 35-34, punctuated by seven rebounds each from Kugel and Stillwell.

A 20-6 run midway through the first half put UCF up by double digits, and they led 42-28 at halftime.

K-State cut the lead to one point in the second half, but couldn’t take the lead into the frame. Their final lead came with 15:24 left in the first.

PJ Haggerty scored 23 points (9-of-18 shooting) for the Wildcats (9-8, 0-4), and Khamari McGriff added 15 points. Nate Johnson had 10 assists. K-State struggled from beyond the arc, converting on just six of its 30 3-point attempts.

UCF won its second straight game, after its 11-game winning streak was snapped by Oklahoma State on January 6. Kansas State has lost four straight games after winning four straight to end its non-conference schedule.

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To be continued

Kansas State: Visits Oklahoma State on Saturday.

UCF: Hosts No. 1 Arizona on Saturday. ___ Receive poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Subscribe here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball