TicketsNov. 22, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The smallest player on the floor at Fifth Third Arena on Tuesday night played the biggest and was the most dominant as University of Cincinnati freshman point guard Devan Downey led the Bearcats to a 76-59 win over Illinois State as UC improved to 2-0 on the young season.
Downey, a 5-10 true freshman from Chester, S.C., scored 21 points in just his second collegiate game to spur the sluggish UC offense, while he triggered a tenacious defense with four steals as the Bearcats forced the Redbirds into 26 turnovers and held ISU to just 39 percent shooting from the field, while collecting 12 steals.
"Tonight I brought more intensity to the game. I wanted to focus on defense and my man was not going score. I just brought intensity," Downey explained.
UC started both halves very sluggish, trailing early by as many as seven at 12-5 just four minutes into the game. After Downey came in, UC took the lead for good at 19-17 on a three-pointer by reserve forward Ronald Allen, who connected on three straight treys in a span of 1:31, to put the Bearcats in control. Allen had a season-best nine points in the win.
The Bearcats would lead by as many as 16 in the first half at 38-22 before Illinois State closed the half on a 12-5 run to cut UC's lead to 43-34 at the break. UC shot well in the opening half, connecting on 49 percent from the field, including 55 percent from three-point range, making 7-13 from behind the arc.
The second half was dominated by defense and poor shooting as the Bearcats shot just 32 percent after intermission, and made just one three-pointer. ISU, 1-1, was no better shooting just 33 percent in the second half, including 27 from behind the arc.
"I felt we had the game in our hands the whole time and once we picked up the intensity, it got out of hand," said senior swingman James White, who had another solid outing for the Bearcats, scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds and collecting a couple of steals. "We are going to get better as time goes on and get better with time while playing together," he added.
Fellow senior forward Armein Kirkland also tallied double figures with 10 points to go along with three rebounds and three steals, while senior forward Eric Hicks had 11 rebounds, three blocked shots, and three assists to go along with eight points.
But the star of the night was the freshman Downey, who continues to impress his coach, first year mentor Andy Kennedy. "He has great quickness, he's strong, and he has great anticipation," Kennedy said. "He is consistently trying to get better and a kid who works on his game. He is a heckuva player who will just continue to improve."
ISU hung around in the second half and was as close as 49-43 with 12:57 remaining before the Bearcats shut down the Redbirds by holding ISU scoreless for 6:50 in the second half to salt the game away. Greg Dilligard paced Illinois State with 16 points while Dana Ford added 12 and a team-high seven rebounds.
"(Devan) Downey was the difference in the game. He got them going defensively and exposed us at the point guard," said ISU coach Porter Moser. "We had turnovers and cannot turn the ball over like that. I want to give credit to UC. I think Downey dictated everything and he was really good tonight."
Despite the 17-point win at home, Kennedy knows some things need to change for the Bearcats to improve. "I get really upset when our attention is not where it needs to be. Our intensity needs to be higher," he said. "UC basketball was built on aggression and I was looking for that spark. I thought we were lethargic there in the second half and I wanted to find some energy."
UC, 2-0 for the fourth straight season, continues its season-opening five-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 25 by hosting Holy Cross at 8:00 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.