KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — In a game defined by towering defensive stands and a frantic final sequence, the UCF Knights edged the Cincinnati Bearcats 66-65 in overtime Wednesday in a second-round Big 12 tournament game that eliminated Cincinnati.

The contest at T-Mobile Center, played before 12,477 fans, was a tense, physical battle that saw 13 ties and 15 lead changes, culminating in a dramatic extra period where neither team led by more than a single possession.

Cincinnati, which finished its season at 18-15, was led by a monumental performance from center Moustapha Thiam. The 7-foot-2 senior from Dakar, Senegal, played 41 minutes, scoring 18 points and recording five blocked shots, altering countless others in the paint. His backcourt partner, Day Day Thomas, also logged 41 minutes, contributing 15 points and six assists.

UCF, improving to 21-10 and advancing in the conference tournament, was powered by forward Jamichael Stillwell. The Atlanta native scored 17 points, including several critical baskets in overtime, and grabbed key rebounds. Center John Bol, a 7-foot-2 counterpart to Thiam, added 13 points, with his free throws proving decisive.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the final seconds of overtime. With UCF leading 66-65, Cincinnati secured a defensive stop and called a timeout with 9.9 seconds remaining. The Bearcats inbounded to Thomas, who drove the length of the floor but had his pass intercepted by UCF’s Jordan Burks with 3.6 seconds left. Burks was immediately fouled.

Burks missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity, giving Cincinnati one final chance. Off the miss, Thiam secured the rebound and hurled a long pass to Jalen Celestine near midcourt. Celestine took one dribble and launched a desperation three-pointer from well beyond the arc as time expired. The shot hit the back of the rim and bounced away, sealing the Knights’ nail-biting victory.

The game was a stark contrast in styles. UCF dominated inside, outscoring Cincinnati 38-10 in the paint and converting 20 points off 15 Bearcat turnovers. Cincinnati, meanwhile, relied on perimeter shooting and the individual brilliance of Thiam, who also hit two three-pointers. The Bearcats’ offense often stagnated against UCF’s physical defense, particularly in the second half when they managed just 31 points after taking a 27-26 lead into halftime.

Cincinnati had opportunities to win in regulation. Holding a 58-56 lead with under a minute to play, the Bearcats committed a 10-second backcourt violation. UCF’s Riley Kugel capitalized with a driving layup to tie the game with 17 seconds left. Cincinnati’s final possession of regulation ended with a heavily contested missed three-pointer by Thomas, sending the game to overtime tied at 58.

In the extra period, the teams traded blows. Stillwell and Bol scored UCF’s first six points, while Thomas answered with five for Cincinnati, including a deep three that tied the game at 64. Bol then hit two free throws with 1:58 left to put UCF up 66-64. A free throw by Thomas cut the deficit to one with 1:46 remaining, setting the stage for the defensive struggle and final sequence.

For Cincinnati, Keyshuan Tillery scored 10 points off the bench, and Celestine finished with 11. UCF’s Kugel scored 15 points, Burks had nine points and three steals, and point guard Themus Fulks directed the offense with seven assists.

The loss ends a season of inconsistency for Cincinnati, which followed a 20-point win over Utah on Tuesday with this narrow defeat. UCF moves on in the Big 12 tournament, having avenged a 20-point loss to the Bearcats just over a month ago. The Knights’ ability to control the interior and force timely turnovers ultimately provided the razor-thin margin needed to survive and advance.