Themus Fulks netted a season-high 20 points and dished out eight assists as UCF posted its seventh straight victory with an 86-61 win over Towson on Sunday in Orlando, Fla.
A senior at his fourth school, Fulks made eight of his 11 shots and his only 3-point attempt. Jamichael Stillwell added 15 points and six rebounds for the Knights (8-1), who suffered their only loss to No. 17 Vanderbilt on Nov. 8.
The start is the school’s best since 2010-11 when UCF won its first 14 games. The Knights made 31 of 56 shots (55%) while the Tigers hit 25 of 55 attempts (45%).
Dylan Williamson had 14 points and Tyler Tejada added 13 for Towson (6-4).
Stillwell and Fulks scored on UCF’s first two possessions as the Knights never trailed. The Tigers, meanwhile, went just 1-for-7 from deep early.
By the 10-minute mark, UCF owned a 20-11 lead as the Big 12 school made over half of its shots and the visitors connected on just 5 of 18 attempts from the floor.
Point guard Fulks, generally more of a passer than scorer, pushed the UCF offense by putting the ball in the hoop, including a driving layup at 7:43 that gave him nine points and the Knights a 27-13 lead.
Wide open in the corner, Carmelo Pacheco drained a 3-pointer with 2:49 remaining for a 41-21 lead. However, Tejada’s long ball and Williamson’s bank shot cut it to 43-27 with 1:11 left in the half — but Fulks cashed a jumper and two free throws to make it 47-27 at the break.
Fulks led UCF with 15 points as 10 players netted points. The Knights shot 55% (17 of 31) while Towson got nine from Williamson but made only 12 of 31 attempts (39%).
Fulks returned to his role as playmaker in the second, recording three consecutive assists on baskets by Jeremy Foumena, Stillwell and Jordan Burks as the Knights led 61-40 with 13:29 left.
The Tigers trimmed the deficit to 67-51 at the 9:45 mark on Tejada’s second 3-pointer, but the Knights created more separation on Pacheco’s corner 3-pointer and John Bol’s putback for a 74-51 lead with just over seven minutes to go.
