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LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team rallied from an early deficit before dropping a double overtime heartbreaker, 56-55, at Nebraska on Saturday night. The Bearcats drop to 6-2 on the season while the Cornhuskers improved to (6-3).
Cincinnati, playing its first true road game of 2014-15, was led by 13 points from Troy Caupain (Midlothian, Va./Cosby). Freshman Gary Clark (Clayton, N.C./Clayton) added eight points and eight rebounds. Jermaine Sanders (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Rice), Octavius Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Trinity Valley College (Texas)) and Farad Cobb (West Palm Beach, Fla./Northwest Fla. St. College) each added six points.
The Bearcats held the Huskers, who averaged 72.1 points per game entering the contest, to just 56 points during the 50-minute game. The hosts were led by 13 points each from Terran Petteway and Shavon Sheilds. Walter Pitchford and Tai Webster contributed nine points apiece. Pitchford added 10 rebounds.
The Bearcats fell behind 19-6 over the first 13 minutes before rallying with a 12-2 run to close the half trailing just two, 23-21. A three-pointer by Cobb started the run and was followed by a Quadri Moore Linden, N.J./Linden) jumper, layups from Clark and Caupain and scores from Jermaine Sanders (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Rice) and Caupain to close the half. Caupain scored seven points in the half to keep Cincinnati in the game.
The second half turned into a heavyweight fight, as the teams slugged it out and finished regulation tied at 44. Neither team led by more than six points in the second 20 minutes. Clark's six points paced UC in the period, while Ellis and Morman had four apiece. Cincinnati held Nebraska to 26.1 percent shooting in the second half while the Bearcats also grabbed 20 rebounds in the frame.
Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation. After the Huskers missed a three-point attempt with five seconds left, the Bearcats took timeout before inbounding the ball underneath the Nebraska basket. Caupain's inbounds pass sailed just out of Ellis' reach and across the opposite endline, giving the hosts a chance. The Huskers got the pass in, but could not get a shot off and the game headed to overtime.
Nebraska scored first in overtime before a Caupain jumper tied it 60 seconds in. Neither team scored again until Ellis hit a pair of free throws with 1:24 left to give UC a 48-46 lead. The Huskers tied the game at 48 with a jumper with 1:09 left before Thomas was fouled and hit one to put UC up, 49-48, with 40 seconds left. The Bearcats forced a turnover and then were fouled with Caupain connecting on a pair from the line to put UC up, 51-48, with 26 seconds left.
After a Caupain foul gave Nebraska a pair of free throws to make it 51-50, Sanders was sent to the line for UC and hit the first before missing the second attempt. The Huskers then went to the line and connected on both attempts to tie the game back up at 52-52. The Bearcats had an opportunity to win it, as Caupain drove to the lane, but missed from just off the block and the game headed to a second overtime session.
Johnson gave Cincinnati the first score of the second overtime, connecting from three with 3:42 to play to put UC up, 55-52. The teams traded misses before Johnson fouled to put the hosts at the line and the Huskers made both to make it a one-point game, 55-54, with just over two minutes left. Nebraksa took the lead with 1:14 to play with Parker hitting a jumper to put the Huskers up 56-55. Ellis was then fouled attempting to put-back a Clark missed and missed both attempts from the line. Nebraska missed before Johnson erred on a three-point attempt and the Huskers took the 56-55 decision.
Next up for Cincinnati is a pair of home dates with 2014 NCAA Tournament teams San Diego State and VCU. The Aztecs visit Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 17, for a 9 p.m. tipoff before the Rams come to Clifton on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Noon. For tickets, visit BearcatsBasketball.com or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.