Carmelo Pacheco, Dior Johnson help UCF hold off South Alabama 76-69

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Carmelo Pacheco and Dior Johnson both scored 24 points to help UCF turn back South Alabama 76-69 on Tuesday night. Pacheco, a 6-foot-5 senior, set a career high by sinking 8 of 12 shots from 3-point range for the Knights (3-0). Johnson made 7 of 12 shots with four 3s and added nine assists and five steals. Johnson entered with 69 points through the first two games — most in the nation. Aaron Goldstein led the Jaguars (1-2) with 20 points and Stephen Williams scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Jalen Langsy hit a 3-pointer in the middle of a 9-0 run and South Alabama took a 16-10 lead. The Jaguars played with a lead over the final 14:27 and were up eight until Pacheco sank two 3-pointers in the final 43 seconds to get UCF within 34-32 at halftime. Pacheco again hit back-to-back 3s to put UCF ahead 41-37 four minutes into the second half and the Knights never trailed again. UCF shot 45% inside and outside the arc, making 17 of 38 from distance. South Alabama shot 46% overall and made 8 of 21 from distance (38%). The Jaguars outscored the Knights 36-8 in the paint. Up next South Alabama: Hosts Loyola Marymount on Thursday. Baylor: Hosts Georgia Southern on Friday. Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here , visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full men’s basketball coverage here