Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jermaine Taylor scored a team-high 20 points, and host Central Florida used a quick start to take a lead it would never yield in the Knights' 78-64 win over Norfolk State on Friday night at UCF Arena.

Behind two of Taylor's four 3-pointers, the Knights (2-0) scored the game's first nine points and never trailed. They shot 47.5 percent from the floor while holding NSU (1-2) to 39 percent accuracy. UCF was also 10-of-22 (45 percent) from behind the 3-point arc.

Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) scored a season-high 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting for NSU. He was 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Kevin Worsley (Chesapeake, Va.) notched career highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double off the Spartans' bench. He was 7-of-8 from the floor and 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

UCF led 41-33 at halftime and opened up a 20-point lead, 64-44, on a 3-pointer by Mike Battle with 11:05 left in the game. NSU got as close as nine on two occasions in the final seven minutes, but could get no closer.

The Knights limited NSU leading scorer Tony Murphy (Paterson, N.J.) to 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting. Rashid Cann (Greensboro, N.C.) had six rebounds and five assists for the Spartans.

Dave Noel added 14 points and Chip Cartwright had 11 for the Knights. Kenrick Zondervan added 10 rebounds.

NSU returns to action on Tuesday at Nebraska. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. EST.