The Cincinnati Bearcats faced the Houston Cougars in a trilogy in the American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game. The Cougars had beaten the Bearcats both times in the regular season including a brutal Senior Day win at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats were looking for revenge in Memphis would they get it?
In the first half the charge was led by Jarron Cumberland, Trevon Scott and Cane Broome. Cumberland set the tone scoring 13 points, getting to the lane at will and causing havoc. Scott was very aggressive on both ends with eight points and five rebounds. Broome came off the bench to give the Bearcats some scoring punch that was needed against the explosive Cougars for seven points. The Bearcats controlled the pace in the first half, but an iffy flagrant one foul was called against Broome on Galen Robinson, Jr. late in the half that netted them a 5-0 run on Robinson, Jr’s made free throws and a made three pointer. The Bearcats took a 33-30 lead into the half.
In the second half it turned into the Cumberland show as he scored 20 of his game high 33 points. The young man did everything he wanted and put his stamp on this tournament. Cumberland outplayed Corey Davis, Jr. which wasn’t the case just a week back at Fifth Third Arena. Broome also had a solid second half scoring eight of his 15 points during that time frame.
The Bearcats held the Cougars to 31% from the field and 24% from three. Nate Hinton and DeJon Jarreau didn’t have the monster games they had last week as the Bearcats held them to a combined 3-of-18 from the field and 1-of-8 from three. That was a far cry from their 29 points and 16 rebounds effort they put up.
The 69-57 win makes the Bearcats back to back (Drake voice) AAC Tournament Championships. Houston won the regular season this year, but Cincinnati got revenge.
Make that ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ @American_MBB Tourney ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ!#Bearcats | #AmericanHoops pic.twitter.com/MgcwHkvRPc
— Cincinnati Menโs Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) March 17, 2019
Trevon Scott made All-AAC Tourmanent Team and Jarron Cumberland was the AAC Tournament MVP:
All-AAC Tournament team: Martin (Mem), McDuffie, Davis (HOU), Brooks (HOU), Scott (Cin).
MVP: Jarron Cumberland, #Bearcats
— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) March 17, 2019
Highlights:
Post game Press Conference:
