Today the Cincinnati Bearcats (2-6)(0-3 AAC) looked to get back in the win column after suffer five straight losses. The Bearcats took on SMU in Dallas, Texas. The Bearcats went with a change in the lineup and played small most the game. Jeremiah Davenport got the start instead of the 7’2″ center Chris Vogt, with freshman Tari Eason playing the center position.
The Bearcats started out slow in the first half trailing as much as 9 points at one time. Sophomore guard Zach Harvey came off the bench in the first half and was the games leading scorer going into the break with nine points. Senior center Chris Vogt played just roughly three minutes in the first half before picking up two personal fouls. A late first half rally started all with freshman guard Mason Madsen who made his Bearcats debut tonight after missing the first eight games due to a high ankle sprain. Madsen shot a three that he made which turned out to be his only shot attempt of the contest, but it turned to spark a lot of momentum in that sequence as then Zach Harvey came down and followed with another three and then suddenly it was a 3 point game. The Bearcats went into the break trailing 37-32, but they had built up a lot of momentum for the second half.
The Bearcats came out in the second half and answered every run that SMU threw at them. Overcoming a late push to hang on and come from behind to put the game away. There was a lot of good in the way the Bearcats played tonight. Four out of five starters were in double digits in scoring. Mika Adams-Woods finished with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor (4-of-5 from three), Keith Williams finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Freshman Tari Eason scored 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks. The freshman showed why he was the Bearcats number one recruit coming into the season. In his first career start as a Bearcat Jeremiah Davenport logged a game high 18 points as well as 10 rebounds. Davenport logged a double-double in his first start as a Bearcat. If you’re a Bearcat fan you have to be excited to see how much Davenport has improved in a year. Junior guard David DeJulius may have only scored two points, but it’s not about the offensive aspect, while logging nine rebounds and 12 assists. Sophomore guard Zach Harvey came off the bench to finish with 13 points and three rebounds.
The Bearcats ended with five players scoring in double figures which is a great sign after dropping five games straight. This team showed they are capable of playing small and how great they can be. If you are a Bearcat fan theirs nothing to be worried about this game was well needed to flip the page and get back in the win column. Coach Brannen really emphasized on the defensive aspect of the game as he mentioned David DeJulius switching with Mika Adams-Woods to guard SMU’S Kendric Davis down the stretch as he said Mika got a little banged up. That insight shows what kind of player we got in the Michigan transfer. Stats may show he struggled offensively, but he defiantly made up for it with those nine rebounds and 12 assists. Coach Brannen said postgame, “that it shows the player David is to lock in and guard who could be easily known as a conference player of the year candidate.” The Bearcats will look to continue this momentum and built forward to flip this season around really quick.
With the 76-69 win against SMU, the Bearcats are now 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the AAC.
The Bearcats will stay on the road as they travel to play Wichita State this Sunday at 4:30 pm on ESPN 2.
