TicketsNov. 20, 2010
CINCINNATI - Four University of Cincinnati basketball players scored in double figures leading the Bearcats to a 65-59 victory over visiting IPFW on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. Sean Kilpatrick and Yancy Gates each scored 13 points while Rashad Bishop chipped in 11 points and Dion Dixon added 10 for UC in its second win in as many games.
IPFW (1-2 overall) switched to a zone in the second half and shut down UC's high powered first-half offense. The Bearcats scored 45 points and owned a comfortable 13-point advantage in the first half (45-32) but managed only six field goals and 20 points in the second half. The 45-point first half was the most points UC has scored in the first half in 21 games (50 vs. Cal State Bakersfield, Jan. 6, 2010) and was a big enough cushion for the victory against the Matodons, who connected on seven 3-pointers for the game.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 9-2 lead but the long-range shooting by the Mastodons kept them in the game, twice cutting the lead to one. With the score 20-19, Kilpatrick entered the game and guided Cincinnati to a 14-5 run. Kilpatrick hit a 3-pointer, grabbed a rebound, handed out an assist, scored a bucket, and connected on a free throw during the 4:07 stretch that gave UC a 34-24 advantage.
UC's big men were dominate in the first half, scoring 10 of UC's first 15 points inside 15 feet and finishing the half with 24 points in the paint. Gates scored 11 of his points in the first stanza while Ibrahima Thomas scored seven of his nine points in the period. Thomas finished the game with a team-high nine rebounds.
IPFW started the second half on an 11-2 run before Cincinnati called a timeout with the score 47-43. Kilpatrick made a return to the game and scored four points, picked off a pass, and blocked a layup off the backboard on an IPFW fast break, pushing UC's lead back to six, 53-47. Forced to shoot from outside, UC managed only eight points in the paint in the second half.
The Mastodons had three more runs in the final eight minutes to get as close as five but UC held on for the victory.
Cashmere Wright finished with eight points and four assists and Bishop was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He is now a perfect 12-for-12 on the season.
The Bearcats out rebounded the Mastodons, 34-24. Four players scoring in double figures was a first for Cincinnati since March 2, 2010 against Villanova.
Cincinnati will play next on Monday, Nov. 22, in a 7 p.m. contest against Florida A&M at Fifth Third Arena.