UCF survives Oakland comeback as Kugel’s milestone night, Stillwell’s double-double lift Knights to 87–83 win
ORLANDO – On a night filled with momentum swings, milestone moments, and late-game pressure, UCF found enough poise to survive.
Behind Riley Kugel’s 18 points, including the two free throws that sealed it, and a breakout double-double from Jamichael Stillwell, UCF outlasted a gritty Oakland squad 87–83 on Monday at Addition Financial Arena.
Kugel, an Orlando native who began his career at Florida and Mississippi State, eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark early in the game. He’s UCF scoring leader through the first five games, averaging 18.0 points.
“I’m obviously thankful for it. I’m blessed. I’m humbled, for real,” Kugel said of reaching the 1,000-point mark. “But at the end of the day, we just had to gut it out.”
What looked like a comfortable night early for UCF (4–1) quickly morphed into a survival test. The Knights built a 15-point second-half lead behind a dominant stretch from forward Jamichael Stillwell, who posted his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and a late scoring burst from Kugel, who finished with 18 points.
But veteran Oakland coach Greg Kampe, now in his remarkable 42nd season with the program, had the Grizzlies prepared for a fight.
Strong start, steady control
UCF opened the game by imposing its will on both ends. The Knights held Oakland scoreless for more than three minutes and out-rebounded the Grizzlies 6–0 in that initial stretch, building a 10–4 edge. Their defensive pressure produced five first-half turnovers, which UCF converted into 13 points, a difference-maker in a tight opening frame.
Offensively, the Knights attacked the paint early and often, scoring 22 first-half points inside and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds before the break. Stillwell did much of that early damage, generating put-backs, hook shots and rim pressures that foreshadowed his career night.
By halftime, UCF led 44–40, despite Oakland knocking down six threes in the opening 20 minutes.
“We beat a really good basketball team,” head coach Johnny Dawkins said. “They’ve already played Purdue, Houston, Michigan—we knew going in this was a team that can challenge you in a lot of ways.”
A furious surge to open the second half
If the first half was steady, the start of the second half was a blitz.
UCF opened with a 9–0 run in the first 1:42, stretching the lead to 53–42. Stillwell scored four points in that span and continued to punish Oakland on the glass, while point guard Themus Fulks began carving up the Grizzlies’ defense.
Fulks delivered one of the most balanced performances of his UCF career with 11 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, and several critical defensive plays.
“He and Themus both played really well,” Dawkins said. “When it got tight, they made plays we needed.”
Stillwell and Fulks are transfers from Milwaukee and were familiar with Oakland from their Horizon Conference days.
“I feel like this game was personal to me,” Stillwell said. “They kicked us out of the tournament last year, so I came in with an aggressive mindset.”
Oakland may not carry the name recognition of Power Four programs, but the Grizzlies have been a solid mid-major. They won the Horizon League in 2024 and, as a No. 14 seed, upset No. 3 Kentucky 80–76 in the NCAA Tournament.
“They’ve got a Hall of Fame coach,” Stillwell said of Kampe, who is in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. “He coaches them well. They run the same system every year, just different players who play just alike. So, it’s like I feel like they’re well coached and they’re coached not to give up, and they’re scrappy. They always have three-point shooters and their zone is kind of weird.”
At the 12-minute mark, UCF was shooting 10-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-5 from deep in the half, extending the cushion to 67–53.
And then came Oakland’s surge.
Oakland’s 15–0 run flips the game
Over the next three minutes, UCF went cold and Oakland caught fire.
Led by sharpshooter Brett White, who hit five threes and scored 21 points, and guard Brody Robinson (20 points), the Grizzlies unleashed a stunning 15–0 run, erasing UCF’s advantage and tying the game at 70.
“It happens fast,” Dawkins said. “You can have a 15-point lead and in the blink of an eye it evaporates. That’s the game today.”
Oakland briefly took its first lead since the opening minute, 74–73, with just under seven minutes to play.
But that’s where UCF steadied itself.
Clutch plays in final minutes
Kugel buried a deep three to end the drought and ignite the crowd. A few possessions later, John Bol delivered arguably the play of the night, a thunderous two-handed slam off a Fulks feed to push UCF ahead 81–77 with 2:42 remaining.
“Being in late-game situations early is huge for us,” Stillwell said. “We executed down the stretch. We got the key stops.”
Oakland refused to go away. After cutting the margin to 83–82 with 26 seconds left, the Grizzlies pressured the ball and forced UCF to earn it at the line.
That’s where the Knights won it.
Stillwell, who Dawkins described as “relentless,” hit two clutch free throws with 38 seconds left. Then Kugel stepped up for the dagger pair with nine seconds remaining.
“Our guys stepped up and made the big free throws and the big stops,” Dawkins said. “That’s what you have to do to win games like this.”
Up Next
UCF heads to Daytona Beach for the Legends Classic, playing Pitt this Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Ocean Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
“I think our guys will benefit from going to another arena, not at home, and competing against a team that’s going to be very good,” Dawkins said. “Your conference tournament, that’s going to be a neutral site This is a neutral site. So all these things are giving us a rehearsal for the end of the season.”
The Panthers are 4-1 with wins against Youngstown State, Longwood, Eastern Michigan and Bucknell, and they lost to West Virginia in Morgantown, 71-49.
