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Postgame Notes: Cincinnati vs. Mississippi State

Postgame notes from No. 25 Cincinnati's 65-50 win over Mississippi State on Tuesday at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. 

Postgame Notes: Cincinnati vs. Mississippi StatePostgame Notes: Cincinnati vs. Mississippi State

Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
25/rv Cincinnati (8-2) 65, rv/rv Mississippi State (8-1) 50
December 12, 2017 • BB&T Arena (Highland Heights, Ky.)

Today's Attendance: 8,128

Starting Five: G Justin Jenifer • F Jacob Evans III • F Gary Clark • F Kyle Washington • G Jarron Cumberland

The Turning Point: Cincinnati used a 20-8 run over 10 minutes in the first half to build a 12-point lead and held Mississippi State to a 30.2 percent (19-for-63) shooting night on the way to a 15-point win, giving the Bulldogs their first loss of the season. 

Leaders: Jacob Evans (SH 24 pts, SH 8 reb); Kyle Washington (t-SH 16 pts, 5 reb); Gary Clark (9 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast, CH 5 blk)

// TEAM NOTES

  • With the win, Cincinnati improved to 8-2 on the year and snapped a two-game losing skid while handing Mississippi State its first loss of the season (8-1).
  • With the victory, Cincinnati has now won three in a row in the series to take a 3-2 lead all-time while also improving to 42-50 all-time against foes from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The win also is the second in a row in the series that has been played at UC's home after the Bearcats won a 75-63 decision on December 18, 2008, in the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational at U.S. Bank Arena.
  • The win tonight extended UC's nation-leading home winning streak to 31 games. The last time the Bearcats suffered a defeat on their home court came December 29, 2015, inside Fifth Third Arena to Temple in the 2015-16 AAC opener.
  • The 50 points allowed tonight is the second-lowest of the season for the Bearcats behind only the 48 scored by Richmond (11/21/17). Since the 2010-11 season, the Bearcats have only allowed 70 points or more in 38 of those 253 games or 15.02 percent of the time.
  • Entering the game, Mississippi State had trailed twice this season by eight points and the Bulldogs were down 10 to UC 10:30 into the game and trailed by double-digits most of the contest.
  • UC held Mississippi State to 25 points in each half, the Bulldogs lowest total in a half this season.
  •  Mississippi State's 50 points was a season low and 28.8 points under its season scoring average of 78.8 ppg.
  • Cincinnati recorded 11 blocks in the game, tying its season-high performance (at Xavier, 12/2/17). The total is also tied for the fifth-highest in the Cronin Era with 12 being the record, which the Bearcats recorded four times so far in his tenure.
  • UC converted 16 MSU turnovers into 22 points, its sixth time this season scoring 20 or more off opponent turnovers.
  • UC had 18 assists on 22 made baskets, matching its total from the past two games (14 @ Xavier, 4 vs. Florida).

HALFTIME REPORT: Cincinnati held a 10-point lead at the break with Kyle Washington leading the way as he poured in a game-high 14 points for the Bearcats on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, putting him just two points off his season-high (16 vs. Wyoming). Jacob Evans III scored nine points and added six rebounds while Gary Clark pulled down five boards to push his career total to 901, making him the 11th player in program history with 900 or more rebounds. Aric Holman led the scoring for Mississippi State as he scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

// PLAYER NOTES

  • At the 8:14 mark of the first half, Gary Clark pulled down his fourth rebound of the game off a Mississippi State miss to bring his career total to 900, making him just the 11th player in UC history to record 900 or more in a career. Clark finished the game with 13 boards, one shy of his season high (14 vs. Buffalo). It was his fourth double-digit rebound game of the season and 34th of his career. Clark has pulled down 909 career rebounds, moving into 10th place all-time. He passed Jason Maxiell (908/2002-05) and trails Yancy Gates (916/2009-12). Gates' 916 rebounds are the most among all players in the Mick Cronin Era.
  • Clark also added a career-high five blocks on the night, upping his career total to 150. With his first rejection, he tied Rick Roberson (1967-69) for sixth in UC history with 146 career blocks while his fifth made him the sixth Bearcats player to reach 150 career blocks. He is now three away from tying Donald Little (1999-02) for fifth all-time with 153.
  • Clark also moved his way further up the all-time scoring ladder as he is now 34th with 1,126 points in his career. Clark entered the game with 1,117 points and scored nine on the night to move past Bill Lammert (1952-55) and Melvin Levett (1996-99), who scored 1,119 points, and then surpassed George Wilson (1962-64), who scored 1,124 points in his career. Next up on the list is Jim Holstein (1950-52), who scored 1,146 points in his career. 
  • Kyle Washington scored 16 points to tie his season high that he previously recorded against Wyoming. Washington finished the game with 16 points, five rebounds, a block and assist.
  • Jacob Evans III scored a season-high 24 points and pulled down a season-high eight rebounds, surpassing his previous best of 23 he scored at Xavier (12/2/17) and just two off his career high of 26 that he tallied against St. Joseph's in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. With those 24 points, he has now scored over 900 points in his career (907 points through tonight's game).