To start the new year and American Athletic Conference play the Cincinnati Bearcats welcomed the Tulane Green Wave into Fifth Third Arena for the second day of 2019. The Bearcats finished non conference play 11-2 and are jelling faster than expected, would they be able to continue rolling against the Green Wave?
If you thought the 11 day layoff was going to hurt the Bearcats you and me were wrong as they shot 54.3% from the field and 60% from behind the arc to dominate the Green Wave 52-28. Cane Broome started for Keith Williams and had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field to go along three assists. Jarron Cumberland led the way with 15 points and six rebounds. Justin Jenifer had 13 points and five assists. The game got a little chippy when Tulane player Blake Paul undercut Eliel Nsoseme and got ejected from the game with 5:07 left in the first half. Besides the three starters the Bearcats got a huge boost from Rashawn Fredericks off the bench with nine points going 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
In the second half the Green Wave didn’t show much fight besides getting two technical fouls early in the half. The Bearcats cooled down from the field some only shooting 40.6% from the field, but hitting 14-of-16 from the free throw line off set (Not Migos) any drop off from the field and from behind the arc. Besides Nysier Brooks being saddled with foul trouble it was a great night for the team. Four players finished with double figures led by Cumberland with 22 points, Jenifer had 18 points, Broome had 17 points and Williams finished with 10 points.
The highlight of the game came towards the end as Sam Martin assisted John Koz’s lay-up at the end of the game, it was walk-on to walk-on love. On 32 makes 20 of them came off of assists and of top of having 20 assists they only turned the ball over five times.
After the dominating 93-61 win Bearcats are 12-2 and 1-0 in the AAC. The won’t play until Saturday when they will travel to ECU for their second game in conference.
Note: It was the 1,800th win in program history
