The Cougars shot 42%, including 8 of 25 on 3-pointers. Houston forced UCF into 20 turnovers, which the Cougars turned into 22 points.
Jamille Reynolds scored 14 points, and Dre Fuller Jr. and Darin Green Jr. each had 12 points for UCF (3-5, 1-4). The Knights, who lost their fourth straight, shot 44%, including 4 of 19 on 3-pointers. UCF went over 10 minutes without a field goal in the first half.
Houston jumped out to a 38-9 lead capped by a three-point play from Brison Gresham with 3:43 left in the half.
The Cougars started the game with four straight 3-pointers — two by DeJon Jarreau and one apiece from Grimes and Marcus Sasser — and hit eight of their first 10 field goals.