Tuesday Night the Cincinnati Bearcats fell to (15-9, 4-7 Big 12) after their gut wrenching 68-59 loss to #10 Iowa State.
A game in which the Cincinnati was clearly flustered from the jump as the Cyclones forced a season high 26 turnovers from the Bearcats. That was the most turnovers from a Cincinnati team dating back to the Central Michigan game back in 2006 where the Bearcats turned the ball over 29 times. Those 29 turnovers resulted in 26 points for the Cyclones, but, despite the season high 26 turnovers, the Bearcats were still able to keep the lose under double digits, which is the first-time all-season Wes Miller and the Bearcats have lost by more than six points.
The Bearcats were led by freshman guard Jizzle James who had a dominate night for the Bearcats finishing with a game high 16 points and five rebounds, while shooting 60% (6-10) from the field. Dan Skillings also recorded his second double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Simas Lukosius also had a solid night where he contributed 15 points in the loss.
Despite winning the rebounding margin 38-24, with 15 of those coming on the offensive glass, the Bearcats were able to score just eight points on second chance attempts. That was something to keep an eye on entering this one was the Bearcats ability to rebound the basketball as they entered tonight top-10 in the country in rebounding, but however, tonight they were unable to capitalize off those offensive rebounds.
How it Happened
Iowa State jumped out to an early 6-4 lead over Cincinnati as the Cyclones defense was all over the Bearcats early. TJ Otzelberger and the Cyclones forced six turnovers in the opening segment resulting in all six points for the Cyclones, which was more than the Bearcats had in total shot attempts, which was four in the opening segment. The Bearcats simply had to find a way to protect the ball as Iowa States relentless defense is known for creating turnovers and the Cyclones were doing that at an elite level through the opening segment.
Cincinnati would lock in on the defensive end as they held the Cyclones without a field goal for over four minutes of play. The Cyclones were bothered by the Bearcats length and physicality in the front court as you could really see the length of Aziz Bandaogo cause some issues altering shots early. However, Cincinnati was not able to capitalize early as the Cyclones continued to bring the pressure on the defensive end as the turnover margin continued to climb in the opening minutes. Cincinnati would tie the game at eight after Jizzle James knocked home his first field goal attempt of the night from behind the arch.
James a true freshman would come off the bench and play an immediate impact for the Bearcats after six quick points to make this a 13-12 game with just over ten minutes remaining in the first half. Iowa State Tamin Lipsey was exchanging basket for basket though after a personal 9-0 run to give the Cyclones a 19-17 lead with 7:02 left in the first half. Like Iowa State, Wes Miller and the Bearcats upped the heat on the defensive end as they held the Cyclones scoreless for nearly three minutes, a span that featured a big-time block from Jamille Reynolds on Keshon Gilbert.
The Cyclones responded with a nine-point run to take a 31-24 lead over Cincinnati after Jacob Paveletzke knocked down an acrobatic jumper as the shot clock expired. The Cyclones were quickly looking to open the flood gates as the first half dwindled away as Wes Miller was forced to call a timeout with 1:10 remaining in the half in hopes to stop the bleeding. Despite the timeout, the Bearcats immediate turned the ball over upon the inbounds play and resulted in two points for Iowa State, extending their run to eleven unanswered. Day-Day Thomas silenced the bleeding after a near three-minute scoring drought after knocking down a huge layup with under a minute to go. However, Cincinnati ended the half just 1 for their last 7 on the offensive end, finishing the half shooting just under 38% from the field.
For the Bearcats, they simply had to find a way to not turn the ball over as the Cyclones dominated the turnover margin 14-7 throughout the first half. The Bearcats 14 turnovers resulted in 14 points for the Cyclones and that was the difference maker to say the least. Cincinnati had to find a way to contain Iowa State guards Lipsey and Gilbert as the backcourt duo combined for 15 points on 7-11 shooting in the first half. Despite holding the Cyclones without a field goal for nearly four minutes at one point, the Cyclones still shot nearly 50% from the field in the first half, while Cincinnati shot just 38%.
Iowa State would start the second half on a huge 7-0 run after a Gilbert three forced a Cincinnati timeout trailing 41-26 with 18:27 in the second half. A run that was sparked off Cincinnati turnovers on consecutive possessions to start the second half, after Thomas recorded his fifth turnover of the night, Wes Miller was quick to his bench to call on the freshman James.
James would bury his first shot attempt of the second moments later that silenced the Cyclones run. For the Cyclones though, they continued to bring the heat as the Bearcats continued to struggle on the offensive end after recording their 20th turnover of the night with over 17 minutes left in the game. The Bearcats offense would start to click after Dan Skillings scored five straight to spark some momentum as they cut Iowa States lead to single digits.
Lipsey continued to anchor the Cyclones offense though, which quickly allowed Curtis Roberts to get going for Iowa State. The forward was giving the Bearcats problems in the second half after burying his first four shot attempts of the second half. Seemed as if any time Cincinnati was looking to cut the lead to single digits, the Cyclones had a response on the other end after shooting nearly 50% from the field through the first ten minutes of the second half.
Skillings provided a huge momentum swing for the Bearcats after burying a huge three to make this a 57-47 game with just over eight minutes left. The Sophomore guard was making a tremendous impact on both ends of the floor, however, if the Bearcats rung out a couple of stops on the defensive end this could very well get interesting down the final stretch.
The Cyclones physicality was just too much for the Bearcats this evening as the Bearcats would go nearly five minutes without a field goal following the Skillings triple. Despite the scoring drought the Bearcats quickly upped the pressure on defense once again and found themselves with a chance down the stretch after Lukosius buried a huge three to cut the lead to seven with 1:15 left in the game.
Despite the Bearcats grit to the very final buzzer, they were just out performance tonight by a very good Iowa State team. An Iowa State team, that has a very realistic chance at winning the Big 12 conference championship after their defensive clinic this evening, as they continued to prove why they are one of the best teams in all of college basketball.
From Wes Miller
“It was obvious Iowa State is a tremendous defensive team. It was obvious the turnovers were the biggest factor in the game, and we are aware of that. We can sit here and talk about the players who are sitting here playing, but the matter of fact is the onus is on me. We have to have our team more prepared, we come out and turn the ball over 25 times, I have to a better job, our staff has to do a better job. We have really good players and I believe in them but to turn the ball over 25 times, we have to do better as coaches. We are disappointed, nobody is more disappointed than I am. In the last three days we have lost to #5 Houston and now #10 Iowa State and thought we blew some opportunities, there’s no doubts about it. If you get your butts kicked and struggle, embrace it and learn. If you do well figure out what you didn’t do well. That is how I am going to approach it every day. There is no arrival, no jumping off the bridge or putting my head down. I am pissed, it hurts because I hate losing, but you have to embrace it and learn. We play at such a high level there’s a chance to learn every night in this conference,” said Miller.
