TicketsDec. 15, 2012
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Cashmere Wright scored 14 points and No. 11 Cincinnati overcame an off game from top scorer Sean Kilpatrick to beat Marshall 72-56 on Saturday.
Cincinnati improved to 10-0 for the second time in three seasons and the 10th time in school history.
Kilpatrick tied his season low with 13 points on 5 of 15 shooting while Justin Jackson scored 10 for the Bearcats. Kilpatrick overcame a poor first half to score nine points over the final eight minutes.
D.D. Scarver and Elijah Pittman scored 20 points apiece for Marshall (6-5).
Last year Marshall overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half and beat the Bearcats 73-69 in overtime in Cincinnati. DeAndre Kane made some key 3-pointers down the stretch in that game, but Marshall's leading scorer wasn't available on Saturday. He's out indefinitely with a right hand injury.
Marshall committed 20 turnovers, made just 14 of 27 free throws and was outmuscled in the paint where it was outscored 40-16.
Cincinnati broke open a tight game with a 13-4 run midway through the second half.
Marshall's Tamron Manning was called for an intentional foul to keep Shaquille Thomas from scoring on a fast break. Thomas made both free throws, Cincinnati got the ball back and Wright made three 3-pointers over the next 1:37 to give the Bearcats a 52-39 lead with 11:44 remaining.
Wright, who set a career high with six 3s in Cincinnati's last game, a 92-60 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Dec. 8, had four against Marshall.
Scarver made a foul shot and hit a 3-pointer after missing the second free throw to give Marshall a brief spark, but Kilpatrick put the Bearcats ahead by double digits for good with a 3-pointer with 7:55 left.
The Bearcats now return home for their next three games, including a matchup Wednesday with cross-town rival Xavier.