TicketsNov. 12, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
CINCINNATI - Darnell Wilks scored 16 points and was one of three University of Cincinnati players to score in double figures, leading UC to a 76-69 victory over visiting Bellarmine University on Thursday night at Fifth Third Arena. Lance Stephenson and Cashmere Wright added 15 and 10 points for Cincinnati, which won each of its exhibition games this season.
Stephenson started the scoring for Cincinnati, landing the first bucket at the 18:52 mark. The Knights hung around until 11:25 when Wilks threw down an alley-oop dunk and Stephenson connected on a 3-pointer that started a 14-3 run for the Bearcats over the next 4:37. A 3-pointer by Rashad Bishop gave UC its largest lead in the first half, 27-13 with 5:55 remaining. UC held a 12 point advantage going into the locker room, 39-27.
The Knights opened the second half on a 12-6 run and pulled within four, 45-41. Larry Davis stopped the Bellarmine attack with a 3-pointer and a free throw, followed up by a Dion Dixon bucket, that put UC up 10, 53-43, with 13:04 to play. The Knights responded with a 9-3 run and pulled back within four, 56-52, before the Bearcats rattled off three layups in 1:30 to go back up 10, 62-52. Cashmere Wright added four points in a 13-7 spurt for Cincinnati, giving UC a 75-59 advantage with 3:09 to play. Bellarmine tacked on 10 points and allowed the Bearcats to score only one for the final score of 76-69, UC.
Cincinnati's bench out-performed Bellarmine, 21-5, in the first half with Wilks shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor, including two 3-pointers. Yancy Gates and Steve Toyloy owned the boards for Cincinnati, pulling down seven rebounds each. The Bearcats out-rebounded the Knights, 44-31, which included a 22-8 offensive rebounding advantage for UC. Senior guard Deonta Vaughn did not attempt a shot in the first half and finished the game without a point, but handed out three assists.
The Bearcats begin regular season play on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. against Prairie View A&M at Fifth Third Arena.