So, the way the bracket gods broke the No.7 Cincinnati Bearcats faced the No.10 Iowa Hawkeyes in Columbus, Ohio as apart of the South Region. In the history between the two programs the Bearcats led the series 6-2, they last played in the first round of the 2005 tournament which ended in a 76-64 win for the Bearcats. Would playing close to home be an advantage?
In the first half the Bearcats came out on fire led by Justin Jenifer a 14-0 run gave the No. 7 seed some cushion. With everything going the Bearcats way when Nysier Brooks picked up his second foul on an iffy call fortunes changed as the Hawkeyes got the lead down to five (36-31). Despite Jarron Cumberland not having a strong half great play from Jenifer, Trevon Scott and Nysier Brooks (when on the floor) picked up the slack for the AAC Player of the Year. Jenifer had a team high 12 points at the half, followed by Scott with eight and Brooks with six. They beat up the Hawkeyes on the glass winning that battle 21-15.
In the second half the Hawkeyes figured out the Bearcats defense and with Brooks only playing nine minutes in the second half the Bearcats had no answer for the hot shooting Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes caught a flow once Brooks picked up his second foul in the first half and didn’t lose it. The Hawkeyes shot 65% from the field and 64% from three in the second half. Nicholas Baer, Luka Garza, Joe Wieskamp and Jordan Bohannon accounted for 40 of the teams 48 second half points on 14-of-19 from the field and 6-of-9 from three. Combined with hot shooting they controlled the glass in the second half 18-11 which is a double recipe for disaster. The Bearcats didn’t attack early on the Hawkeyes full court press which hurt them in the end. Cumberland woke up late in the second half, but it was too little too late. Seniors Jenifer and Cane Broome did what they could to keep the team afloat, but it wasn’t enough with Brooks foul trouble and Cumberland having an off game.
Jenifer finished with a team high 19 points on 7-of-12 from the field. Cumberland finished with 18 points on 7-of-17 from the field and four assists. Trevon Scott finished with 10 points and seven rebounds and Brooks finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
Garza led all scorers with 20 points, Wieskamp finished with 19 points, Bohannon finished with 13 points and Baer finished with 10 points.
This loss is disappointing looking at the opponent and the location of the game. The Bearcats received a home game with #BearcatNation traveling well and loss 79-72. On a year where they were supposed to be rebuilding they overachieved winning 28 games, but losing to Iowa has to be a disappointment. It will suck not seeing Jenifer and Broome next year, I wish those young men the best. Iowa moves on to Tennessee, Cincinnati comes home.
Note: Before yesterday the Bearcats were 23-0 when leading at the half, this season.
Post game presser per BearcatsTV:
Head coach Mick Cronin, junior forward Trevon Scott and senior guard Justin Jenifer
