Jacks come up just short to Central Florida

Saturday, November 29

Cancun, Mexico

4:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Central Florida

11/29/2008 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

CANCUN, Mexico - Down three with 20 seconds to go and the ball, Central Florida fouled Garrett Callahan to send him to the line, where he sunk both freebies to get South Dakota State within one at 65-64, but the Jackrabbits could not close the gap.

Central Florida added a late free throw and hung on to beat South Dakota State 66-64 on Saturday in the Jackrabbits first game at the Cancun Challenge in Cancun, Mexico.

The Jacks fall to 2-4 with the loss, while the Knights improve to 3-2.

Kai Williams scored a season-high 15 points in the first half, but foul trouble limited him to just a single free throw in the second half.

The Jackrabbits broke a 25-all tie in the the first half on a Mackenzie Casey three-pointer and led by as many as 11 at 40-29, but UCF hit a three at the first half buzzer to send the Jacks to the lockerroom up eight at 40-32.

SDSU continued to lead throught most of the second half, but UCF continued to claw its way back and eventually took a 58-54 lead with less than seven minutes to go in the game.

The Jacks got it back to a tie at 58-all on a pair of Anthony Cordova baskets, but the UCK scored the next five points and never trailed again.

Williams' 16-points led the Jacks in the loss, as did his game-high 11 rebounds. Garrett Callahan added 15 points and tied a career-high with four steals. Mackenzie Casey pitched in with a season-high 10 points.

Isaac Sosa led UCF with 19 points in the win.

SDSU struggled to shoot 31.7 percent, 20-of-63, from the floor for the game, which includes a 27 percent effort from three-point range (7-of-26). UCF shot 43.6 percent, 24-of-55, for the game, including a 46.2 percent mark (6-of-13) from long distance.

The Jackrabbits return to action on Sunday in Cancun with a game against Central Arkansas. UCA won its game against the Citadel on Saturday. Tip-off between the Jacks and Bears from the GalacticBallroom at the Moon Palace Resort is scheduled for 2 p.m.