Postgame Notes: Cincinnati vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
20/22 Cincinnati (10-2) 77, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-13) 49
December 19, 2017 • BB&T Arena (Highland Heights, Ky.)

Today's Attendance: 5,812

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

The Turning Point: Cincinnati scored the first basket and Arkansas-Pine Bluff tied the game at 2-2, but the Bearcats defense held the Golden Lions scoreless for a span of 7:08 and forced the visitors into 12 turnovers to build a 24-2 lead before allowing UAPB's next two points.

Leaders: Cane Broome (GH/SH 17 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast), Jacob Evans (12 pts, 7 reb)

// TEAM NOTES

• With the win, Cincinnati improved to 10-2 on the year while dropping Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 0-13 overall
• The win tonight extended UC's nation-leading home winning streak to 32 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.
• IN THE SERIES: With the victory, the Bearcats improved to 4-0 in the all-time series with Arkansas-Pine Bluff with all four wins coming on the Bearcats' home court. Prior to tonight, the most recent win for UC was a 99-50 decision on November 22, 2015, at Fifth Third Arena.
• HALFTIME REPORT: After the game was tied for just under two minutes into the game, the Cincinnati offense and defense took over and built a commanding 43-16 lead at the intermission, holding the visitors to just 16 points, the fourth-lowest total in a half under Mick Cronin. Nine different players scored at least two points with Jacob Evans III leading the way with eight points. Defensively, the Bearcats forced the visitors into 14 turnovers, including nine steals, while limiting the Golden Lions to just 26.1 percent shooting, including 9.1 percent from beyond the arc while the hosts hit on 53.6 percent of their shots (33.3 from three).
• In the first half of play, the Bearcats limited the Golden Lions to 16 points, the fourth-fewest under Mick Cronin. It marked the second time this season that a defensive effort has made the list after UC allowed just 14 points to Richmond at the Cayman Islands Classic (11/21/17). The record is 13 points to Marquette (1/19/13) with Alabama State being limited to 14 (11/13/11) as well. Overall this year, the Bearcats have held opponents to 20 or fewer points in the opening 20 minutes of play three times while keeping the opponents to 30 points or fewer in nine of the team's 12 games played.
• UC limited the Golden Lions to 49 points on the night, the second-fewest (48 to Richmond) this season. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Bearcats have allowed just 14.9 percent of its opponents (38-of-255) to score 70 or more points.
• UAPB shot 36.0 percent from the field tonight. That percentage marks the ninth game in 12 this season that the UC defense has held a foe under 40 percent shooting in a game.
• The defense forced 22 turnovers on the game, equaling the highest total in a game this season (22 by Western Carolina, 11/13/17). It also marked the fourth time this year UC has forced 20 or more turnovers in a game.
• For the fourth time this year, the defense recorded a double-digit steal total, tallying a season-high 13 tonight. In the past two games (12 at UCLA), the Bearcats have recorded 25 thefts.

// PLAYER NOTES

• Cane Broome scored 17 points to lead all scorers in the game, matching his season high in points that he scored in his debut against Savannah State (11/12/17). Broome finished on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three while adding a 2-of-2 showing at the charity stripe.
• Gary Clark blocked one shot in the game to take over sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time Top 10 ledger. He now has 154 career blocks for the Bearcats.
• Clark pulled down six rebounds to up his career total to 926. Clark needs four rebounds to pass Connie Dierking (929/1956-58) for eighth place all-time.  
• Jacob Evans III finished with 12 points, the eighth straight game and 10th time in 2017 he has hit for double digits.