Preview: Baylor Bears at UCF Knights

OVIEDO, Fla. (Interstat) — A surging UCF squad will look to solidify its standing when it hosts a struggling Baylor team in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at CFE Arena.

The Knights (20-7, 8-6 Big 12) enter on a high note after a decisive 97-84 road victory at BYU on Tuesday. They have won three of their last four, largely powered by the stellar play of guard Themus Fulks. In the win over BYU, Fulks posted 24 points and 11 assists, his latest in a string of dynamic performances. Over his last seven games, Fulks is averaging 19.1 points and 6.7 assists, establishing himself as the engine of UCF’s offense.

Conversely, the Bears (14-14, 5-10) are mired in a difficult stretch, having lost five of their last six games. Their most recent outing was an 80-87 home loss to Arizona on Tuesday, despite a 26-point effort from guard Cameron Carr. Carr has been a consistent bright spot for Baylor, scoring 20 or more points in four of the last eight games, including a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double in a Jan. 31 win at West Virginia.

This game presents a stark contrast in momentum. UCF, comfortably above .500 in league play, is battling for postseason positioning. Baylor, sitting at .500 overall, is in urgent need of a quality win to reverse its late-season slide. The Knights won the season’s first meeting, 88-80, in Waco on Jan. 10.

The matchup at point guard will be critical. Fulks’ playmaking for UCF will be challenged by Carr’s two-way prowess for Baylor. How the Bears contain Fulks in transition and half-court sets could determine their ability to pull an upset on the road.

Saturday’s contest is the penultimate regular-season game for both teams. UCF hosts Oklahoma State on Tuesday before closing at West Virginia. Baylor travels to Houston next Wednesday before finishing at home against Utah.