The Cincinnati Bearcats welcomed the UCF Knights to Fifth Third Arena on Valentine’s Day and were looking to get their 4th win in a row. The Bearcats have been rolling since their long break due to covid issues and have found themselves back on the good side of the American Atheltic Conference. Coming into the game at 6-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Sitting in 5th in the AAC coming into today’s game and had a tough opponent in UCF. The Knights beat UC earlier in the year at their place and the Bearcats were looking for revenge. UCF came in at 6-10 overall and 4-9 in conference play. The Knights record did not say much, but UC knew this would be a tough and very physical game. The last time these two teams played there were three technicals fouls given out in the game. The starting lineup was the same from the last two games in David Dejulius, Mikey Saunders Jr, Keith Williams, Jeremiah Davenport and Chris Vogt. Could the Bearcats get revenge on UCF and get back to .500?
The Bearcats got off to a very hot start as they went back to back with the UCF offense to keep the score nodded up at 8-8. Then the Bearcats turned it on and went on an 11-0 run and took a large 23-13 lead with 10 minutes to go in the half. It was arguably one of the best showings they had on offense as they got the ball inside to Chris Vogt who shot 4-of-5 from the field and really helped on the interior. The Bearcats also got great play from Mika Adams-Woods who originally was a starter at the beginning of the year, but has been coming off the bench with Mikey Saunders, Jr. starting instead. The Bearcats have seemed to found their rotation as no matter what the Bearcats will always have shooters on the floor. It looks like the Bearcats seem to play a lot better with the current rotation and this rotation helped UC go on a big run. Unfortunately, their offense went cold in the final four minutes and UCF was able to cut the lead down to 1 heading into the half at 35-34. The Bearcats big scorers were Chris Vogt who was everywhere in the first half with eight points, two rebounds and a block, Mika-Adams-Woods who was hot from 3 to help the Bearcats tremendously from the field and Keith Williams who had a quiet six points, but was everywhere and a menace getting the offense started. Could the Bearcats finish off the Knights in the second half?
In the second half, the Bearcats got off to a fast 6-0 start and were looking to get back into their offense that grabbed them a big lead in the first half. The Bearcats unfortunately after that run went quiet again and went back and forth with them to pull the game within 8. They struggled with turnovers in the second half as they turned the ball over 10 times in the second half. They received some big-time production from the Michigan transfer David DeJulius. He went back in forth and made some big-time shots in the second half as he had 11 second-half points and really helped UC put the game away in the second half. UCF tied the game with 7:45 to go in the game and the Bearcats needed a momentum boost. That boost ended up being guards Mika Adams-Woods, David DeJulius, on top of senior leader Keith Williams. All three of them found their way to the bucket multiple times and were able to extend the lead multiple times. The UCF Knights though would fight back and get the lead to 3 with 25 seconds to go. The Bearcats would then rely on free throws to end the game. First would be Mika-Adams-Woods in he would bury the free throws, after a 3 from UCF, DeJulius would have his chance and would miss that would let UCF cut the lead to 1 with 14 seconds to go. Then the biggest free throws coming from the freshman Mason Madsen who would once again step up and clutch his free throws to finally bury the game. UCF would chuck a miracle 3 and make it, but the Bearcats would hang on to win by 1 by a final score of 69-68. The Bearcats for the first time since December are back to .500 and are finally looking like the Bearcats team we know.
The big-time scorers for the team were Mika Adams-Woods who was on fire from 3 as he had 13 on 4-of-8 from the field including 3 from beyond the arc on top of five rebounds and a dish. Adams-Woods has been able to come off this bench and provide great minutes for the Bearcats. Then there was David DeJulius who has been the “closer” as many have referred to him. He had 14 with 11 of those points coming in the second half and provided that spark the Bearcats needed to finish this one-off. Then the play of senior leader Keith Williams who dropped 14 was amazing he was able to dish out four assists, eight rebounds and was everywhere in leading the offense. There was also the great play of Chris Vogt who has seemed to gain his confidence back he dominated the interior dropping 11 points and grabbed another seven rebounds. The Bearcats with the play that they showed today could get better and better as they go.
The Bearcats now sit at 7-7 overall and 5-4 in conference play they have a week off (unless a game gets scheduled during the week possibly) and will head to Houston to take on the dangerous Cougars who are 8th in the country. That game will be on ESPN 3 at 1 pm.
