This evening, the Cincinnati Bearcats (4-0) welcomed in former NBA player Damon Stoudamire and Georgia Tech to Fifth Third Arena as the Bearcats looked to remain perfect to kick off the 2023-2024 season.
The Bearcats are coming off a 90-61 victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday behind a career day from sophomore guard Dan Skillings.
Bearcats big man Aziz Bandaogo would be making his Bearcat debut after the NCAA granted him immediate eligible for the Bearcats late Monday evening. Bandaogo was initially denied immediate eligibility by the NCAA due to being a two-time transfer, but the NCAA overturned his appeal making him immediately eligible, a huge boost for Wes Miller and the Bearcats.
Although, Bandaogo was available, Wes Miller went with the same starting lineup as the first four games of the season. However, all eyes were on the big man tonight as he made his Bearcats debut, he got a warm heartfelt ovation from the crowd at Fifth Third Arena when he checked in at the 16 minute mark of the first half.
Final Stats
Viktor Lakhin led the Bearcats with a team high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, all 15 points in which came from behind the arch as the big man continued to show off that deep range jumper he has spent all offseason working on.
John Newman finished with 12 points, while CJ Fredrick finishes with 11 points (all in which came in the second half).
Aziz Bandaogo had eight points and nine rebounds in his Bearcat debut while playing just 21 minutes on the night. A huge boost for the Bearcats as Bandaogo allows the Bearcats to do so much more on both ends of the court and we saw that tonight with what it allowed a guy like Viktor Lakhin to do from behind the arch.
