Fans storm court after UCF jabs upset of Texas A&M in SEC

After UCF upset No. 13 Texas A&M on the opening day of the 2024-25 season, Knights fans enjoyed their first court-storming of the year, as they hit the floor after Monday’s 64-61 win.

And the Big 12 used the victory to poke the SEC with a familiar phrase: “It means more.”

👍 It just means more. pic.twitter.com/SKiA7xuhRA

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 5, 2024

In 2016, the SEC began using the phrase in all sports to announce its dominance.

This season, UCF was picked to finish 11th in the Big 12’s preseason poll, while Wade Taylor IV, an All-SEC first team selection last year, and Texas A&M were projected to finish fifth in that league entering the season.

“Unbelievable atmosphere,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said on the broadcast after the win. “Who wouldn’t want to play here in front of this crowd? Our student section is amazing. I’m really, really happy for our guys. Our fans come out and they support us. Just seeing the evolution of our program over the years, where this program can go. I’m really excited to see.”

Taylor’s struggles — he finished 4-for-15 with 13 points on Monday — contributed to a tough road loss for a team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season and battled top-seeded Houston until the final moments of overtime in the second round.

But returning veteran Darius Johnson for UCF, who finished with 24 points and added the go-ahead bucket with 45 seconds left in the game, helped his team overcome a late double-digit deficit. Texas A&M led by 11 with 7:03 to play.

Although Dawkins lost contributors from last year’s team who could score more than 30 points per game, he was confident in the group as the season began.

Disasters were familiar to Dawkins & Co.

Last season, UCF won 17 games and missed the NCAA Tournament but the Knights won more games than any ranked team in school history. On Jan. 10, 2024, UCF fans stormed the court after a 65-60 win over then-No. 3 Kansas. That team also defeated Oklahoma and Texas Tech, both top-25 teams at the time.

After Monday’s first game of the season, UCF clearly remains a threat to pull off more upsets.

“One thing about our guys is that they compete,” Dawkins said after the game. “We beat a really good basketball team, an experienced team. I’m really proud of our effort.”