The Bearcats would open the second half on a 9-4 run as David DeJulius scored or assisted on all nine of the Bearcats points to start the second half. A huge momentum changer as they cut the Cougars lead to 10 following an Oguama layup, forcing Kelvin Sampson to call a timeout leading 42-32 with 16:55 remaining here at Dickies Arena. However, whatever Sampson said in that timeout it worked, as the Cougars started to pour it on once again taking a 52-37 lead following an 8-0 run with 11:42 remaining.
The Cougars would keep their foot on the gas and stay locked in as they held the Bearcats scoreless for roughly 3 plus minutes as they held a 60-38 lead with 7:11 remaining here at Dickies Arena. The Bearcats went cold as they shot 0 for their last 7 before a Mika Adams-Woods made three pointers. The Cougars were just too much for the Bearcats this afternoon as they showed why they are the number one team in the country.
The Bearcats would fall to Houston 69-48 as the Cougars showed why they are the top team in all of college basketball this afternoon. Jamal Shead and J’Wan Roberts lead the way with 16 points each for the Cougars, while Landers Nolley finished with a team high 14 points for the Bearcats. The Cougars just dominated from start to finish this afternoon despite seeing AAC Player of the Year Marcus Sasser leave with a groin injury early in the first half. The difference maker in this one was the Cougars outscoring the Bearcats 38-12 on points in the paint, as Houston was getting anything they wanted inside it seemed. The Bearcats shot just 25% from the field, while the Cougars shot 51% from the field this afternoon. “It’s hard beat a great team three times in a season,” said Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson. “Cincinnati is a great team and we saw that yesterday in their 30-point win over Temple.”
The Cougars would just be too much for the Bearcats this afternoon as they now improve to 31-2 on the season and will play the winner of Tulane and Memphis in the AAC Championship tomorrow afternoon. However, for the Bearcats they play the waiting game ahead of selection Sunday, as the NIT Brackets will be released tomorrow night.
“You have to tip your cap to Houston, it was not our best shooting night,” said Wes Miller. “Give Houston credit for making it difficult. They are the number one team in the country for a reason. I told the guys in the locker room; I hope we put ourselves in position to keep playing as we will wait till tomorrow to find out when the NIT bracket comes out. My focus is on this team, we will reflect whenever we are done. I am hoping come tomorrow night we receive a bid to the NIT, then once this is over, we will reflect. I hope we have earned the right to keep playing.”
What’s next for the Bearcats, well they will play be anxiously waiting tomorrow in hopes of landing an NIT bid after recording their first 20-win season since 2019.
