- Matchup: UCF Knights vs UCLA Bruins
- Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
- Broadcast: TBS
- Betting Odds: UCF (+6)
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The UCF Knights (21-11) make their way to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday to face off against the UCLA Bruins (23-11) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. According to bookmakers, UCLA is favored by 6 points, with the over/under set at 152 points.
The UCF Knights recently faced Arizona, suffering a defeat with a final score of 81-59. During the game, UCF committed 24 fouls while Arizona had 15. The Knights managed to convert 6 of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc, while Arizona shot 54.8% from the charity stripe, making 17 of 31. Arizona secured 42 rebounds (13 offensively, 29 defensively) but did not record any blocks. The Wildcats recorded 9 assists and achieved 5 steals. Defensively, UCF allowed the opposing team to score at a shooting rate of 48.3% (29 of 60). They also posted 10 assists, forced 8 turnovers, and had 4 steals. UCF accumulated 34 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. At the free-throw line, they converted 10 of 15 attempts, translating to a success rate of 66.7%. Overall, UCF concluded the match with a field goal percentage of 36.5% (23 of 63) and made 3 of 21 shots from distance.
Themus Fulks was a key player, contributing 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting. He played for 35 minutes and recorded 3 rebounds, achieving a shooting percentage of 54.5% and delivering 2 assists.
UCF will enter this game with a record of 21-11 for the season. They are averaging 81.0 points per game (66th nationally) with a shooting percentage of 46.6%. The Knights are hitting 36.2% of their three-point attempts (251 of 694) and have a free throw success rate of 74.0%. UCF grabs an average of 37.2 rebounds per game and has registered 504 assists this year, ranking them 90th in the nation for passing. They average 11.2 turnovers per game and commit 17.5 fouls per matchup.
On defense, the Knights force 11.3 turnovers each game and draw 17.3 fouls. They are currently ranked 227th in college basketball for assists allowed, surrendering 449 this season. UCF’s defense permits an opponent shooting percentage of 45.6% (875 out of 1,918), and they allow an average of 33.5 rebounds per game. Their opponents shoot 34.0% from three-point range, placing UCF 304th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (78.5).
In their last outing, the UCLA Bruins faced a defeat against Purdue, finishing 73-66. In terms of rebounding, UCLA allowed Purdue to collect 32 rebounds (14 offensive). The Bruins managed to convert 35.7% of their three-point shots, hitting 10 out of 28 attempts and finished 13 of 19 from the free-throw line (68.4%). Purdue shot 25 of 54 from the field, giving them a shooting percentage of 46.3%. For their performance, the Bruins shot 25 out of 57 from the floor, resulting in a shooting percentage of 43.9%. From long range, UCLA made 7 of their 20 attempts (35.0%), with 9 successful free throws, achieving a clip of 81.8%. Purdue committed 17 fouls, leading to a total of 11 free-throw attempts for the Bruins. UCLA recorded 8 turnovers and achieved 12 steals during the game, while gathering 20 defensive rebounds and 6 offensive ones for a total of 26 rebounds.
Trent Perry was significant for the Bruins, scoring 15 points with 4 of 12 shooting (33.3%) and grabbing 3 rebounds. He also dished out 9 assists during his 40 minutes on the court.
With a 23-11 record this season, UCLA is shooting 47.1% from the field, ranking 62nd in college basketball. They have amassed 2,643 points, averaging 77.7 points per game and 32.3 rebounds. The Bruins are assisting teammates 16.3 times per contest (47th nationally) while committing 8.9 turnovers per game. They average 17.1 fouls and hit 76.7% from the charity stripe.
Defensively, UCLA ranks 103rd in college basketball in points allowed per game at 71.0. They force an average of 12.0 turnovers and allow teams to shoot 43.3% from the field (122nd in Division 1). Opponents hit 31.8% of their three-point attempts (270 of 849), and 75.3% of their free throws. UCLA concedes an average of 15.4 assists and 32.8 rebounds per game, placing them 304th and 77th in those categories respectively.
Who will come out victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Recommendation: Take UCF (+6)
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