Fresh off of a road win versus UCF, the Cincinnati Bearcats now 16-9 overall and 5-7 in the Big 12 invited the Oklahoma State Cowboys 11-14 overall and 3-9 in the Big 12 into Fifth Third Arena for a Big 12 matchup. This was the second game in a row that Dan Skillings started for Viktor Lakhin. Would the Bearcats start a small winning streak?
The Bearcats started off hot with a 10-4 run behind Simas Lukosius and Dan Skillings, but the Oklahoma State answered with a 13-2 run to give them a 25-18 lead. The Bearcats would answer with a 7-0 run themselves and just when you thought they turned the corner Oklahoma State would go on a 8-0 run, followed by a 5-0 by the Bearcats key by a Day Day Thomas layup and an assist to Lukosius for 3, cutting the lead to 33-30. Oklahoma State pushed the lead to 37-32 at the half. Cincinnati won the rebounding battle 17-14, but loss turnover battle 9-7 which isn’t good and is main reason they are down. Oklahoma State also went 3-of-8 from 3, while the Bearcats shot it better going 4-of-9, Oklahoma State isn’t known for making 3’s and to shoot it at a nice clip was a surprise.
Lukosius is leading the way with 10 points on 4-of-7 from the field, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and three turnovers. Skillings has seven points and six rebounds as well. Oklahoma State was led by Brandon Garrison who had 10 points on 5-of-7 from the field, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Would the Bearcats play better in the second half?
Early in the second half Aziz Bandaogo picked up his third foul. The Bearcats defensive intensity picked up as a Skillings steal led to a nasty dunk by Day Day Thomas. Oklahoma State couldn’t handle Jamille Reynolds in the post and it allowed the Bearcats to get easier scores, but the road team would answer when the Bearcats would claw closer. Jizzle James got an and 1 opportunity to cut the lead down to 2 (missed free throw) with 10:46 left in the second half. Dan Skillings got two offensive rebounds first it was off a miss from Josh Reed, first the James free throw, but then James broke off the Oklahoma State defender to tie the game up on a line pull up jumper. Bandaogo gave the Bearcats the lead with a two hand dunk. James came down the next play and broke off his defender again to score and push the lead up to 4 with 9:06 forcing the road team to call a timeout. Oklahoma State went on a 4-0 run to tie it up, John Newman split at the line, then Josh Reed went on a 4-0 run with hustle and filing the lanes to push the lead up to 5. Bandaogo was called for his fourth foul on a 3 point attempt by Jamyron Keller who made all three free throws to give Oklahoma State a 65-64 lead. The following play Lukosius drove left, missed the layup, Bandaogo got the put back and was made the free throw as he was fouled to give the Bearcats a 2 point lead. Eric Dailey made a 3 to give Oklahoma State a one point lead, followed by a bad turnover by Dan Skillings and a John-Michael Wright 3 to give them a 4 point lead. Williams made both free throws to push the lead to 6, Lukosius made a big 3 to cut the lead to 3 and after a stop the Bearcats still had a chance. Skillings made a layup of a nice pass from Lukosius to cut the lead down to 1 with 24.5 seconds left. Javon Small made four free throws in a row, sandwich a Newman tip in and the Bearcats were down 3. Thomas made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second and Oklahoma State got the rebound, Keller knocked down both free throws to ice the game with 2.5 seconds left.
Lukosius finished with 17 points on 7-of-14 from the field, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Reynolds, James and Thomas finished with 10 points. Skillings finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Note: Oklahoma State shot 55.6% from the field, 41.2% from 3 and 92.9% from the line, Cincinnati won the glass 32-26
The Bearcats lose 80-76, to Oklahoma State and now are 16-10 overall and 5-8 in the Big 12. They will have TCU on Saturday on the road at 3 pm.
