The Cincinnati Bearcats came into tonight’s game winners of two overtime games in a row. The USF Bulls led by Brian Gregory have been a pleasant surprise in the American Athletic Conference so far this season and are a real threat. Would the Bearcats be able to push their streak up to three in a row?
In the first half it was all Bearcats all the time led behind junior swingman Jarron Cumberland who put up 19 points during the first twenty minutes of the game. While Cumberland was doing his thing on offense, the defense picked up intensity allowing USF to shoot 40% in first half, which was an improvement on the recent games. Cumberland reached the 1,000 point club in the first half on a made three.
Count the 3. Jarron Cumberland hits 1,000 career points and one… @WLWT #Bearcats pic.twitter.com/VkpAgPJIdC
— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) January 16, 2019
Congrats to Jarron Cumberland as he becomes the 53rd player in program history to record 1,000 career points!#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/zqRcDINy3a
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) January 16, 2019
The Bearcats took a 43-31 lead into the half and all was well.
In the second half everything changed when Mick Cronin got two quick technical fouls and was ejected when Nysier got called for a foul after a great sequence on defense with 18 minutes left. Brooks and other players had to hold Cronin back, but once USF got back on the court they went on a 20-9 run the following 7:02 to tie it at 55. For as great as Cumberland was playing USF’s Laquincy Rideau matched for awhile with 26 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals, but he fouled out late in the half. Cumberland kept the pressure on USF finishing with a career high 34 points. He was a threat from the elbow and he shot 16 free throws knocking down 14 of them. While Cumberland will get all the shine and rightfully so two major blocks were made on the defensive end by Brooks and Tre Scott to help control the tide late in the second half.
The Bearcats had four other players in double digits besides Cumberland, Scott 12, Keith Williams 11, Justin Jenifer 10 and Brooks 10.
After pulling off the 82-74 win #BearcatNation can sigh with no overtime game tonight, but a few things to look at in the game is UC was outrebounded 27-23 and they allowed USF to shoot 54.2% from the field in the second, but held them to 27.2% from three in the second half.
The Bearcats are now 15-3 overall and 4-1 in the AAC and will face Wichita State on the road on Saturday.
Highlights, Cronin, Cumberland and Scott’s presser on the next page
