It might not have been how Johnny Dawkins envisioned UCF’s first game of the season, but the Knights ultimately earned a thrilling 96-95 overtime win over Florida Gulf Coast University on Monday at Addition Financial Arena.
Dior Johnson scored 41 points, including 22 in the second half, to lead UCF (1-0). It was the fourth-most points in program history at the Division I level.
“I really was just trying to win,” Johnson said after the game.
“It’s great having Dior back,” Dawkins said. “It was so much fun watching him grow and mature this summer. He’s a very uncommon young man. I don’t think 1% of players would have come back and played for us again. He was terrific tonight.”
The Knights opened with a three-guard lineup of Cayden Vasko, Johnson, and Riley Kugel, alongside Isaiah Malone and John Bol. Bol scored the first points as UCF took an early 10-5 lead, shooting 80% from the floor.
Lewis Walker, a transfer from North Carolina A&T, led the Knights with 12 points in the first half, helping UCF to a 20-13 lead. However, a scoreless stretch let FGCU take a 34-32 lead, and UCF trailed 38-36 at halftime.
In the second half, Johnson scored 15 of UCF’s first 18 points to regain a 54-49 lead. Despite UCF extending their advantage, FGCU (0-1) fought back, tying the game at 73 and taking a brief lead at 76-74 after BB Washington hit three free throws.
UCF reclaimed the lead with a jumper by Johnson and a 3-pointer from Arturo Dean, but Chase Koniecny hit a buzzer-beater to tie it and send it into overtime.
UCF center John Bol (7) tries to get through FCGU forward Bryson Lucas (left) and FGCU forward CJ Outlaw (right) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Mister Dean (3) drives into FGCU forward Bryson Lucas (5) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Isaiah Malone (32) and UCF guard Mister Dean (3) stop FGCU guard Darren Williams (2) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins signals during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF players Dior Johnson (1), Mister Dean (3), and Riley Kugel (8) celebrate during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Mister Dean (3) tries to get through FGCU defenders during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Isaiah Malone (32) leaps to block a shot by FGCU guard Turk Brown III (1) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Dior Johnson, left, drives into FGCU guard Darren Williams on Monday night in both teams’ season opener at at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando. Johnson, who transferred back to UCF after a season at Tarleton State, scored 41 points to lead the Knights to a 96-95 overtime win over the Eagles. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins coaches during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF center John Bol (7) is fouled by FGCU center Justin Houser (44) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF center John Bol reacts during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Churchil Abass (white jersey) blocks a shot attempt by FGCU guard Turk Brown III (1) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Lewis Walker (white Jersey) drives into FGCU forward CJ Outlaw (right) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Churchil Abass (9) fouls FCGU forward Chase Konieczny (23) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Cayden Vasko (0) powers over FGCU forward Chase Konieczny (right) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Jahda Swann (white jersey) shoots during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Lewis Walker (with ball) shoots beside FGCU forward CJ Outlaw (45) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
FGCU coach Pat Chambers yells during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Riley Kugel (8) shoots past FGCU forward Chase Konieccny (23) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Arturo Dean scores during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF forward Lewis Walker (5) shoots beside FGCU forward Chase Konieccny (23) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF center John Bol (7) leaps to block a shot by FGCU center Justin Houser (44) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF center John Bol (white jersey) pulls in a rebound over FGCU guard Darren Williams (2) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Arturo Dean (2) fights to control the ball under FGCU guard Turk Brown III (1) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Arturo Dean (2) tries to shoot beside FGCU center Justin Houser (left) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Young UCF fans cheer during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
UCF guard Cayden Vasko signals during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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UCF center John Bol (7) tries to get through FCGU forward Bryson Lucas (left) and FGCU forward CJ Outlaw (right) during the Florida Gulf Coast University at the University of Central Florida college basketball game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Monday, November 2, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
In overtime, UCF jumped to an 89-82 lead, but FGCU responded to tie the game again. Johnson made key free throws to put UCF up 96-92. However, Koniecny hit a long 3-pointer to narrow the gap.
Johnson was fouled again and he missed both shots, forcing a Hail Mary attempt by FGCU that bounced off the rim for the win.
This is Johnson’s second stint at UCF; he played for the Knights during the 2024-25 season.
“I was able to sit back and learn so much from those guys,” said Johnson, who averaged 24 points at Tarleton State last season. “I appreciate sitting behind them and taking in all the knowledge I could.”
“We did a lot of good things and we took a great team to overtime,” said FGCU coach Pat Chambers. “I’m not into moral victories.”
“Give them a lot of credit,” Dawkins said of the Eagles. “They have a lot of shooters on the floor. You have to be engaged on every possession.”
Walker added 16 points and Dean had 15 to power the Knights.
UCF was 25 of 38 (65.8%) from the free-throw line, including 14 of 23 (60.9%) in the second half.
The Eagles had four players in double figures, led by Lucas with 25; Houser had 20, and Williams and Konieczny had 15 apiece.
UCF returns to the court Friday night when the Knights host Yale at 7 p.m.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram at @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.