TicketsJan. 30, 2010
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
CINCINNATI - Cashmere Wright scored 24 points, the most points by a University of Cincinnati men's basketball player this season, and the most points by a UC player in school history against Providence College, leading the Bearcats (14-7, 5-4 BIG EAST) to a 92-88 victory over the Friars (12-9, 4-5 BIG EAST) at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday night.
Five Bearcats scored in double figures, with Rashad Bishop scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds, Deonta Vaughn scoring 12 points, Lance Stephenson scoring 12 points and pulling down a game-high nine rebounds, and Darnell Wilks adding 10 points. It is the third time this season that five UC players have scored in double figures in a game and the third time this season that the Bearcats have scored 90-plus points in a game.
Cincinnati out-rebounded Providence, 38-33, and scored 40 points in the paint. The Bearcats shot 57.1 percent from the floor, the eighth time this season UC has shot better than 50 percent from the floor.
Providence won the tip and jumped out to a 9-3 lead, extending their lead to eight, 24-16, with 13:54 on the clock. The Friars made their first six three pointers and both teams made the first 15-of-16 shots from the floor with Wright and Bishop combining for UC's first 12 points. UC went on an 11-3 run over 4:35 with back-to-back buckets by Wilks during that stretch. Wilks slammed a Larry Davis miss, tying the game at 27 with 8:43 to go in the half. The Bearcats got their first lead of the game when Bishop made layup off a dish from Wright, 32-30, with 7:15 on the clock.
Providence bounced back with a 7-4 run over 3:06 and a 42-39 lead with 2:10 to go. Vaughn and Wright scored back-to-back layups on defensive stops and Wright hit a free throw to keep it tied, 44-44, at the half. The halftime score was the first time this season UC has been tied at the half and the most points UC has scored and given up in a BIG EAST game this season in the first half.
Bishop hit a 3-pointer to start second half prompting an 8-3 run that gave UC a 52-47 lead. PC went on an 8-5 run for its final lead of the game, 60-57, with 12:48 left. Yancy Gates got a put-back jam to start 13 straight points for the Bearcats over 2:56. Cincinnati extended its lead to 14, 81-67, which included back-to-back dunks from Gates, and the final basket from the floor for UC with 3:22 to play. The Bearcats spent the rest of the night at the free throw line and the Friars closed the game with a 21-11 run over the final 2:50 of the game.
With its 5-4 record in BIG EAST play, UC ties its best start in conference action (5-4 in 2007-08). Providence was led in scoring by Sharaud Curry, who poured in career-high tying 27 points and hit five three pointers. Jamine Peterson scored 19 while Marshon Brooks and Vincent Council scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Friars tied for fourth in UC history with 34 3-point field goal attempts by an opponent.
Cincinnati will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 4 at Notre Dame in a 9 p.m. BIG EAST game on ESPN.