The Cincinnati Bearcats welcome the Wichita State Shockers into Fifth Third Arena for an American Athletic Conference battle. The Bearcats needed to make an example of the Shockers after a tough road loss to the Houston Cougars.
The first was old school Bearcats basketball, they took an 34-24 lead to the half while only shooting 30% from the field. They held the Shockers to 21.2% from the field and 26.7% from three, I know Cronin was smiling from ear to ear in the locker room. In the low percentages Jarron Cumberland and Cane Broome carried the weight with 14 and eight points respectively. Nobody for the Shockers scored in double digits in the first half.
In the second half the Bearcats shot the ball better from the field and we able to keep control of the game. In the second half the Shockers were able to rebound the ball very well, but that happens when 52 shots during the course of the game. The play of the half was a steal by Cumberland that led to a nice dish to Keith Williams who brought the crowd to its feet with a thunderous dunk. Play inserted below!
https://twitter.com/ucbarstool/status/1097218706973839361?s=21
Huge threes by Rashawn Fredericks and Justin Jenifer before the monsterous Williams dunk pushed the lead up to 15 points. The lead got as large as 19 points, but the Shockers fought back some. The home team imposed their will on the game and won 72-62.
Cumberland finished with a game high 27 points, six rebounds and five assists. Williams finished with 15 points and making a career high nine free throws (9/10 from the line). Broome scored all of the bench points finishing with 12. Tre Scott and Fredericks both had a team high eight rebounds. Nysier Brooks had a game high five blocks. They held the Shockers to 26.8% from the field and 25.7% from the three.
Keep an eye on the rebounding margin as a whole for the Bearcats as they lost that battle 51-42 today.
Cincinnati is now 21-4 overall and 10-2 in the AAC, they will face UCF on Thursday night at 7 pm at Fifth Third Arena.
Highlights and J.T.’s vlog on next page
