After winning two games at home in the NIT, the Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to Terre Houte, Indiana to face the Indiana State Sycamores in the Elite 8. Could the Bearcats extend their winning streak?
In the first half it seemed as if they were on the road to victory as they took a 36-32 lead into the break. Jizzle James started his second game in a row due to the season ending foot injury to Day Day Thomas. James had 13 points in the first half on 6-of-13 from the field. Dan Skillings had six points and eight rebounds in the first half.
In the second half the game started to get a little dicey as the refs had a friendly whistle for Indiana State. Aziz Bandaogo was fouled on a dunk attempted, it wasn’t called and Xavier Bledsoe hits a 3 putting Indiana State up 7, followed by a Wes Miller technical foul which led to Ryan Conwell hitting both free throws. With the Cats down 9 with 7:17 left, they would storm back with timely shots by Simas Lukosius and Jizzle James, but a turnover by Lukosius, missed layup by James and turnover by James didn’t help the cause. James had a turnover with the game tied at 77 with 1:45 left in the game that they couldn’t recover from. Down 3, James drove to the hole, was fouled by Robbie Avila and it was a no call. It was a just a cap on what happened with the referees in the second half.
Indiana State won 85-81, the Cats won the glass 38-36, but late in the game allowed Indiana State to get multiple offensive rebounds which didn’t help the comeback process. Indiana State won the turnover battle 8 to 13.
James was second in scoring with 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and three turnovers. Lukosius had a 26 points and four rebounds. Skillings had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Avila had 22 points, five rebounds and six assists. Indiana State had three others in double figures, Isaiah Swope 12, Ryan Conwell 18 and Jayson Kent 16.
The Bearcats finish the season 22-15 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12. Now the offseason is upon us, what do they have to do to play in March Madness in 2025?
