#UCF#Utah#Themus Fulks#College Basketball#Big 12#Free Throws#Salt Lake City#February 22, 2026
📌 Key Takeaways
Themus Fulks made clutch free shots in final seconds to secure UCF victory
UCF improved to 19-7 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play with two consecutive wins
Utah's Don McHenry nearly won the game with three free throws after being fouled
UCF has now won all four meetings against the Utes
📖 Full Retelling
UCF's Themus Fulks scored 24 points and made his only two foul shots of the game with three seconds remaining to secure a 73-71 victory over Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, February 22, 2026. The Knights, who shot 53% from the field including 44% from beyond the arc, snapped a three-game losing streak with their second consecutive win. Jordan Burks contributed 14 points to the victory, while Utah's Terrence Brown led all scorers with 21 points. The game featured dramatic late-game moments, including Don McHenry's 3-pointer that tied the game at 68-all with 56 seconds left, followed by Burks' counter 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining. McHenry nearly won the game for Utah when he was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 13 seconds left and sank all three free throws, but Fulks' clutch free shots in the final moments secured the win for UCF.
🏷️ Themes
College Basketball, Big 12 Conference, Clutch Performance
Amateur basketball played by students of higher education institutions
College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athletic bodies, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercolle...
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university with its main campus in unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. With 69,818 students as of the fall 2024 semester, UCF has the second largest on-campus student ...
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northeast, Idaho to the north, and Nevada to the west.
UCF's narrow victory over Utah demonstrates their resilience in close games and keeps them in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid with a strong conference record. The win also maintains UCF's perfect 4-0 record against Utah, establishing early dominance in this new conference rivalry.
Context & Background
UCF improves to 19-7 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play
Utah falls to 10-17 overall and 2-12 in conference
UCF has won two straight after three-game losing streak
What Happens Next
UCF faces a challenging road game against 23rd-ranked BYU on Monday, which could significantly impact their tournament resume. Utah hosts sixth-ranked Iowa State on Tuesday, facing another tough opponent in their difficult season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the leading scorer for UCF?
Themus Fulks led UCF with 24 points, including the game-winning free throws.
How did Utah tie the game late?
Don McHenry tied the game at 68-68 with a 3-pointer with 56 seconds remaining.
What was unique about this matchup?
This was the first time UCF ever played Utah in Salt Lake City, with all previous meetings being at home or neutral sites.
What is UCF's record against Utah?
UCF improved to 4-0 all-time against Utah with this victory.
Original Source
Fulks' late foul shots help UCF sink Utah 73-71 Themus Fulks scored 24 points and made his only two foul shots of the night with three seconds left and UCF beat Utah 73-71 By The Associated Press February 22, 2026, 12:01 AM SALT LAKE CITY -- Themus Fulks scored 24 points and made his only two foul shots of the night with three seconds left and UCF beat Utah 73-71 on Saturday night. Jordan Burks added 14 points for UCF (19-7, 8-6 Big 12) which shot 53% (30 of 57) including 44% (7 of 16) from 3-point range. The Knights have won two straight following a three-game losing streak. Terrence Brown scored 21 points, Don McHenry scored 19 points and Keanu Dawes 15 and grabbed 12 rebounds for Utah (10-17, 2-12). McHenry tied it at 68-all with a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left before Burks countered with a 3 with 31 seconds remaining. On Utah's next possession, Jamichael Stillwell fouled McHenry on a 3-point attempt who then went to the foul line and sank all three free throws with 13 seconds remaining. UCF ran its record against Utah to 4-0. It was the first time the Knights ever played Utah in Salt Lake City. Each previous matchup was either at home or neutral territory. Before Saturday, the last matchup between the two was in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship last year when the Knights won 87-72. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says Feb 21, 5:31 PM Trump says he has signed order for new 15% tariff after Supreme Court ruling Feb 21, 4:34 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM No Big 12 team has missed the NCAA Tournament after finishing above .500 in conference play since 2009. UCF: Plays Monday at 23rd-ranked BYU. Utah: Hosts sixth-ranked Iowa State on Tuesday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basket...
