Following No. 1 Houston’s thrilling 67-59 road win over UCF on Wednesday, head coach Kelvin Sampson threw a little shade at the faithful that packed Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Sampson seemed disappointed over the excitement level of the UCF crowd.
“UCF has had some awesome crowds when we’ve been coming here. I didn’t think tonight was one of them,” Sampson said via Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel and Tribune. “We’ve been here where the crowds have been louder.”
If the UCF fanbase didn’t bring the fight, the team on the court did. The Knights not only stuck with Houston throughout Wednesday’s contest but, for a time, looked primed for an upset.
Houston didn’t gain the lead until 11:52 of the second half when they went up 45-42 after trailing by as many as seven early on. They outscored UCF 22-17 down the stretch, sneaking away with an eight-point win.
Guards Jamal Shead and L.J. Cryer led the way. Shead finished with 16 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals, while Cryer recorded a game-high 25 points, including five three-pointers.