ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Isaiah Sykes scored 20 points, grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and had 11 assists as Central Florida defeated East Carolina 83-73 Saturday.
It was the junior guard's second triple-double this season. He had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in an 83-66 win over Stetson on Dec. 20.
The Knights (17-6, 7-2 Conference USA) led by 16 points early in the second half, but the Pirates, who beat UCF 88-85 in overtime on Jan. 2, closed the gap to 77-73, with 1:31 remaining.
A layup by Sykes and two free throws apiece by Tristan Spurlock and Calvin Newell gave the Knights their final margin.
Spurlock finished with 16 points and Keith Clanton 14 for UCF. Clanton also had six rebounds, becoming the Knights' career leader with 948.
Maurice Kemp led East Carolina (13-9, 4-5) with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Miguel Paul had 11 points and 10 assists.
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