Keyshawn Hall powered the UCF Knights to an impressive 87-72 victory over Utah in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday, delivering a standout performance with 23 points, including 17 crucial points in the second half. Hall, the Big 12’s leading scorer this season, was highly efficient at the free-throw line, connecting on 12 of his 14 attempts.

Joining Hall’s offensive explosion, Darius Johnson contributed significantly with 20 points, while Jordan Ivy-Curry added 15 points. Moustapha Thiam played a pivotal role inside, securing a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. With this victory, the 14th-seeded Knights (17-15) advance to face a tough matchup against No. 6 seed Kansas in the tournament’s second round on Wednesday.