TicketsJan. 22, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Devan Downey scored a game-high 21 points and Cincinnati shot 53 percent in the second half as the Bearcats snapped a three-game losing streak by outlasting Rutgers, 71-66 in BIG EAST action on Sunday afternoon in Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (14-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) saw a 12-point second half lead turn into a one point deficit with under five minutes to play, but some timely free throws and defense led the Bearcats to their third win in conference play. In the late goings of the game and UC holding on to a 69-66 lead, Chadd Moore came up with a steal and was fouled with 16 seconds remaining. The senior converted both of his free throws to seal the final five point winning margin for UC.
Moore played one of his best games of the year, scoring a season-high 11 points. Hicks got his seventh double-double of the year and the 20th of his career with 13 points and 12 rebounds, despite making just 4 of 13 shots from the field. James White enjoyed a solid all-around performance with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Cincinnati held Quincy Douby, the nation's eighth leading scorer, four points under his average, but the 6-3 junior still managed 19 points, including 10 in the second half. Jimmie Inglis was a perfect 6 of 6 from the floor for 16 points, while Marquis Webb (11) and Anthony Farmer (10) each reached double figures. Rutgers falls to 12-6 overall and 2-3 in the BIG EAST with the defeat.
"It feels good to win," admitted UC head coach Andy Kennedy. "It's been awhile since we won and this was the first win without Armein (Kirkland). As much as you say you will get it done, until you get it done there are certainly some questions in your mind. So this was good for the team."
The afternoon got off to a sluggish start for both teams as neither could get in sync offensively in the early stages. Rutgers missed its first three field goal attempts and committed four turnovers before a Byron Joynes tip-in with 15:27 left. Cincinnati got off to a 2 for 15 start shooting from the floor before Downey buried a jumper with 10:10 to play to get Cincinnati within 10-8.
The Bearcats, undersized and short on depth along the frontline, saw Cedric McGowan, the squad's second leading rebounder, pick up his second foul at the 14:24 mark of the first half. Connor Barwin, a member of the UC Football Team that has been pressed into service on the court, gave the Bearcats a lift, converting his first career field goal and tallying a rebound and as assist, to spark a 6-0 UC run that put the home team back in front.
After falling behind by one, Cincinnati would go on to score 8 of the final 12 points of the first half to take a 28-24 lead into the break.
The start to the second half saw the Bearcats convert two fastbreak layups, one each by Downey and Moore, keying UC to a 34-27 lead. One of the main storylines for the second half began to come into play, however as Rutgers heated up from long range. For the half, the Scarlet Knights shot 67 percent (8 of 12) from behind the arc to climb back into the game. Five points by Anthony Farmer and a triple by J.R. Inman brought Rutgers to within 36-35 with 16:37 remaining.
Before long, the visitors would find themselves down 12 as a 14-3 Cincinnati run spanning nearly five minutes put the Bearcats in control by a 50-38 count. Rutgers would catch fire from there, knocking down three triples as part of a 21-8 run that moved the Scarlet Knights into the lead with under five minutes to play.
From there, UC retook the lead for good as White knocked down a three with 4:32 left. The Bearcats would move back in front by five as the inside duo of Hicks and McGowan combined for six points in a two and a half minute stretch. That set the stage for a Duboy lay-in that cut the UC lead to three and Moore's game preserving steal.
Rutgers, which features two starters of 6-9 and a roster of nine players listed at 6-7 or better, held the advantage on the boards, but only by a 39-32 margin. Joynes led the Knights with 11, while Hicks led all players with 12 boards.
UC will look to build on the momentum of Sunday's win when it travels to archrival Louisville on Wednesday night. Tip-off from Freedom Hall in an ESPN2 televised game is set for 7:30 p.m.