The Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to Orem, Utah to face the Utah Valley Wolverines in the NIT Quarterfinal. Cincinnati has only played Utah Valley once before and they won that lone meeting in 2010. Would Cincinnati be able to get the dub and get a chance to play in the Final Four in Las Vegas?
In the first half Utah Valley had three players in double figures and won the battle on the glass 19-15. Cincinnati had two in double figures with David DeJulius and Landers Nolley who had 12 and 11 points respectively. Viktor Lakhin had three fouls in the first half. Cincinnati was down as much as 12 points in the first half, but they were able to chip into the lead. Utah Valley were able to be up at the half 39-33.
In the second half the Bearcats were able to tie the game at 41 early in the second half behind strong play from Lakhin and Nolley. As hard as they tried they battled they couldn’t get the lead the rest of the half. Utah Valley’s Aziz Bandaogo had four blocks and 12 rebounds, he was a key clog making it hard for Lakhin all game who finished with 10 points (shooting 5-of-11 from the field), 10 rebounds, two blocks and fouled out late in the second half. Cincinnati had some good looks, but just couldn’t knock them down. DeJulius and Nolley had 19 and 23 respectfully, but combined to shoot 16-of-49 from the field. Jeremiah Davenport and Mika Adams-Woods combined for three points, while shooting 1-of-11 from the field. Cincinnati also lost the battle on the glass 46-40, which was something I knew they couldn’t lose on the road.
With the 74-68 loss their season is over now, finishing 23-13 this season. They miss going to Vegas, but this team showed a lot of improvement, but next season they will head into the Big 12, the roster will have to improve if they are going to compete in the best basketball conference in the land. It will be the last time we see David DeJulius in a Bearcats uniform, will it be the last time we see Landers Nolley rocking a Bearcats uniform? It didn’t end how they wanted, but give props to Miller and his staff for establishing his culture and style unto the program.
