UCF @ Southern Methodist

Who will WIN this matchup?

UCF Knights (16-5)

@ Southern Methodist Mustangs (12-10)

Current odds:

UCF Knights: (+120)

Southern Methodist Mustangs: (-140)

• The line for this game is SMU by 2.5 points.

• Central Florida likely needs a strong stretch run to remain in the conversation for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, and it can ill afford a slip-up Sunday afternoon at slumping SMU. The Knights opened play in the American Athletic Conference with a 5-1 mark, but they’ve dropped two of their last three after falling 77-68 to No. 12 Houston on Thursday.Senior guard B.J. Taylor finished with 21 points and a season-high seven assists for UCF, which was unable to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit. “The first half, we dug a hole for ourselves (and) the second half we responded and played the way we’re capable of,” coach Johnny Dawkins told reporters. “When we’re playing against a team that’s that good, it’s a tough hill to climb.”

• The Mustangs were 3-1 in conference play before losing five of six, including their last three. They gave up a 3-pointer in the closing seconds in a damaging 67-66 home loss to South Florida on Thursday.

• Taylor leads the Knights in scoring at 17.1 points per game and junior guard Aubrey Dawkins ranks second (15.0), although he has just 24 points on 8-of-31 shooting over his last three games. Senior center Tacko Fall produced 13 points and six rebounds in the loss to Houston and the 7-6 standout continues to lead the nation in field-goal percentage (76.1). Sophomore forward Collin Smith scored in double figures in five of the first eight conference games before being held scoreless in 11 minutes versus the Cougars.

• Each of the Mustangs’ three straight losses have come by five points or fewer and it’s beginning to wear on the players. “I’ve been coaching for 30-some years, and I can’t remember three more heartbreaking games back-to-back to-back,” coach Tim Jankovich told the media after the loss to USF. “It’s hard to swallow. It’s very painful. I really hurt for our guys. We’re one possession away from having our greatest three-game stretch in a long, long time.” Sophomore forward Isiah Mike has been a bright spot during the tough times and is averaging 20 points on 61.4 percent shooting over his last four games.

• Mustangs senior G Jahmal McMurray entered Saturday tied for third in the AAC in scoring (18.3).

• Knights junior G Terrell Allen was 18-for-34 from 3-point range over his first 18 games but is 1-for-7 over the last three.

• SMU won eight straight meetings before falling 52-37 at UCF in the second of two meetings last season.