Kingston Flemings powers No. 8 Houston past UCF 79-55, extending Fertitta Center dominance and Big 12 surge

Houston reaches 20 wins again as defense and interior scoring overwhelm UCF

Houston’s men’s basketball team continued its home-court run on Feb. 4, 2026, defeating UCF 79-55 at the Fertitta Center behind a balanced performance led by freshman guard Kingston Flemings. The win moved the No. 8 Cougars to 20-2 overall and 8-1 in Big 12 play, while UCF fell to 17-5 and 6-4.

Flemings finished with 18 points and six assists, setting the tone in an offensive approach that leaned heavily on interior production rather than perimeter shooting. Chris Cenac Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, and Milos Uzan scored 12 points. Despite making only 3 of 19 attempts from three-point range, Houston shot 55% overall, reflecting a shot profile built on finishing at the rim and generating high-percentage looks.

First-half separation built on a sustained run and shot quality

The game’s decisive stretch arrived late in the first half. With the score still within reach early, Houston put together an extended surge that created breathing room before halftime. Flemings and Cenac combined for 22 first-half points on 10-of-17 shooting, and Houston carried a 33-19 advantage into the locker room.

Houston’s lead never dropped below double digits after the break, as the Cougars’ defense turned UCF possessions into contested shots and limited second chances.

Paint points, rebounding and efficiency: the statistical foundation

Houston’s control showed across the box score. The Cougars held a 40-29 rebounding edge and posted a 42-14 advantage in points in the paint, two indicators that defined the game more than three-point accuracy. The defensive end was equally influential: UCF shot 31% from the field and went 6 of 21 from beyond the arc, struggling to generate consistent scoring against Houston’s pressure and discipline.

• Houston: 55% shooting, despite 3-for-19 from three
• Rebounding: Houston +11 (40-29)
• Paint scoring: Houston +28 (42-14)

Program benchmarks and what the result means in the standings

The outcome extended several program and matchup trends. Houston won its 17th straight home game and improved to 50 wins in its last 51 games at the Fertitta Center. The Cougars also won their 11th straight against UCF. The victory marked the program’s 11th consecutive 20-win season under head coach Kelvin Sampson, a measure of sustained regular-season consistency as conference play moves deeper into February.

For UCF, Riley Kugel led the Knights with nine points. The loss ended a three-game winning streak and added another data point to a résumé that has included multiple opportunities against ranked opponents and top-tier competition.

Next games

UCF is scheduled to visit Cincinnati on Sunday. Houston is set to play at No. 16 BYU on Saturday.