TicketsFeb. 6, 2014
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 58 UConn |
Final Stats | Notes | Quotes | Postgame Blog Cincinnati, Ohio Fifth Third Arena |  63 CINCINNATI | ||||||||||||
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The No. 7 University of Cincinnati men's basketball team overcame a five-point halftime deficit and knocked off No. 22 UConn in front of a raucous season-high crowd of 12,432 Thursday in American Athletic Conference action at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (22-2, 11-0 American) changed the momentum in the second half thanks to the efforts of seniors Justin Jackson (Cocoa Beach, Fla./Arlington Country Day) and Sean Kilpatrick (Yonkers, N.Y./Notre Dame Prep).
With 9:18 remaining and the Bearcats down 46-43, Jackson blocked Lasan Kromah's shot off the glass, sending it down the court where Kilpatrick grabbed it out of a scrum, dashed down the court and slammed it home. Jackson got into the offensive action on the next possession, slamming a putback off a miss to pull within one at 46-45. Jackson added another layup on UC's next possession to give UC its first lead since the opening five minutes of the game.
UConn (17-5, 5-4 American) added two free throws to retake the lead, 48-47 with 5:41 left. On UC's ensuing possession, Kilpatrick drained a three with the clock running down to give UC a 50-48 lead it would not relinquish.
The Huskies pulled it down to one, 59-58 after Shabazz Napier knocked down a three, but Jermaine Sanders (Far Rockaway, N.Y./Rice) and Kilpatrick each drained a pair of free throws to seal UC's 18th-straight home win, setting the arena record for most home wins to start a season with 16 this season.
Kilpatrick lead all players with 26 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He drained five triples and dished out six assists.
Jackson finished with 15 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks, his 17th double-figure scoring game in 24 contests this season.
Napier led UConn with 16 points despite struggling to a 2-for-12 night from behind the arc. Kromah finished with 13 and Niels Giffey added 10.
UC trailed by as many as 10, 31-21, with 2:18 left in the opening stanza. The Bearcats closed the half on 5-0 run, to pull within 31-26 at the break.
After UC had grabbed an early 8-7 lead, UConn had a quick 6-0 run over about 90 seconds, putting UC in a 13-8 hole. UC pulled within two at 13-11 after a three by Kilpatrick, but the Huskies continued to chip away and built the 10-point margin, 31-21, with 2:18 left in the half.
The Bearcats hit the road for a Saturday-night matchup at sold out Moody Coliseum against the SMU Mustangs. The two teams squared off in Fifth Third Arena on New Year's Day with UC earning a 65-57 win. Since that game, SMU has won 7 of 10 games, including a six-game home winning streak. ESPNU and 700 WLW AM will provide live coverage.