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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team used a late second-half run to break open a close game and hung on for a 54-49 win over visiting Eastern Illinois in the opening game of the Emerald Coast Classic, Sunday in Fifth Third Arena.
With the Bearcats leading 41-40 with 10:41 to go, a split 1-and-1 from Quadri Moore (Linden, N.J./Linden) and layup by Jermaine Sanders (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Rice) started a 10-2 run that gave Cincinnati (3-0) a nine-point cushion at 51-42 with 2:21 to go. During the run, Sanders added a triple, one of only two on the night for UC, while Troy Caupain (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) and Octavius Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Trinity Valley CC) scored layups.
The Panthers (1-3) battled back, getting the margin down to three at 52-49 with 13 ticks on the clock, but a pair of free throws from Farad Cobb (West Palm Beach, Fla./NW Florida State College) sealed the five-point win that extended the Bearcats home non-conference winning streak to 12 games.
Caupain led all players with a career-high 17 points on an 8-for-13 shooting night. He added six rebounds. Shaq Thomas (Paterson, N.J./NIA Prep School) totaled nine points and five rebounds while Ellis and Sanders added seven apiece. Eliis also had a career-best 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. Gary Clark (Clayton, N.C./Clayton) finished with four points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Trae Anderson (12), Reggie Smith (12) and Chris Olivier (11) all found double digits for the Panthers.
The Bearcats had a 49-35 edge on the glass, and scored 34 of their points in the paint. UC was 12-of-51 (.410) from the field and just 2-for-13 (.150) from behind the arc.
A putback dunk by Thomas at the buzzer knotted things at 26 heading into the locker room. The Bearcats led for over 14 minutes in the opening 20 minutes, but failed to pull ahead after being hamstrung by eight turnovers and a pair of goaltending calls on Ellis.
The Panthers scored 10 of their 26 first-half points off of turnovers and stayed within five for the entire half despite being outrebounded by a 23-13 margin.
The Bearcats continue their four-game swing in the Emerald Coast Classic on Tuesday, Nov. 25, taking on NC Central at 7 p.m. ET inside Fifth Third Arena, ahead of traveling to Destin, Fla. to face Middle Tennessee State on Friday, Nov. 29 and either Creighton or Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 29.
To purchase season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets for all UC home men's basketball games, visit BearcatsBasketball.com or call 1-877-CATS-TIX for more information about all ticket options.