TicketsCincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
19/20 Cincinnati (14-2, 3-0 AAC) 76, rv/rv SMU (12-5, 2-2 AAC) 56
January 7, 2018 • BB&T Arena (Highland Heights, Ky.)
Today's Attendance: 9,109
Starting Five: G Justin Jenifer • F Jacob Evans III • F Gary Clark • F Kyle Washington • G Jarron Cumberland
The Turning Point: Five minutes into a low-scoring affair and Cincinnati trailing, 9-5, the Bearcats went on a 14-1 run to build a big lead that they would not surrender as they cruised to their 35th home win in a row – the longest active streak in the nation. The Bearcats made seven free throws in that run to help build a 34-20 lead at the break before maintaining the lead and claiming their seventh victory in a row.
Leaders: Jacob Evans III and Gary Clark each scored a game-high 18 points in the contest to lead the Bearcats to victory while Jarron Cumberland added 14 points in the victory. Clark and Kyle Washington both pulled down eight rebounds in the game while Evans, Justin Jenifer and Cumberland each added four assists. Jarrey Foster led the way for SMU with 16 points while Shake Milton chipped in 14.
// TEAM NOTES
• With the win, Cincinnati improved to 14-2 overall and 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference on the strength of their seventh win in a row while SMU fell to 12-5 overall and 2-2 in the AAC.
• IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati increased its lead in the all-time series with SMU to 8-5 overall while staying perfect at home in games with the Mustangs (7-0). The win also snapped the Mustangs' two-game winning streak against the Bearcats after winning the regular season meeting in Dallas last year before defeating UC in the championship game of the AAC Tournament.
• The Bearcats are now 3-0 in the AAC, marking the second year in a row and third time in five years as members of the league that Cincinnati has opened conference play at 3-0.
• The win today extended UC's nation-leading home winning streak to 35 games and also has won 19 league home games in a row as well. 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.
• HALFTIME REPORT: Jacob Evans III led all scorers with 10 points and added three rebounds to pace the Bearcats to a 34-20 lead at the break as both teams struggled to shot well from the field with Cincinnati connecting on only 28.1 percent shooting and SMU at 30 percent. With SMU leading, 9-5, at the 15:19 mark, the Bearcats went on a 29-11 run to close out the half and grab the 14-point advantage. Eight different Bearcats scored on the half with four scoring at least five points.
• By limiting the Mustangs to just 20 points in the opening half, the Bearcats have now limited five foes to 20 or less in first half of play this season (in 16 games). UC now also has only allowed 27 or more points in the first 20 minutes of play just six games, keeping opponents to 26 or fewer in 10 games so far this year.
• For the game, UC held SMU to 56 points, which equaled the fewest points scored by the Mustangs this season. SMU previously scored 56 points in a 56-51 victory at home over visiting UCF on December 27, 2017. It also marked the 10th time this season (16 games) that the Bearcats have held an opponent to 56 or fewer this year.
• The Mustangs shot 37.5 percent from the floor. That marks the 12th time this year (16 games) that the UC defense has held an opponent under 40 percent shooting from the field. UC also held a foe under 70 points and, since the 2010-11 season, have now allowed just 14.7 percent (39 of 259) opponents score 70+ in a game.
• UC put back 14 second-chance points on 13 offensive rebounds, a +10 differential vs. the Mustangs (14-4). It was the fifth time this season the Bearcats had an advantage of 10 points or more on second-chance buckets.
• UC scored 26 points off 18 SMU turnovers, the 12th time this season the Bearcats have forced 15 or more turnovers. UC has totaled 20 or more points off turnovers in five of the last seven games, averaging 23.7 points off turnovers per game in the last seven.
• UC had 20 of its 24 points in the paint in the second half, including scoring from the paint on eight of its first nine baskets coming out of the break.
• The Bearcats stuffed three shots on the night and have blocked three or more in all 16 games this season.
// PLAYER NOTES
• Gary Clark was part of today's starting lineup, giving him 117 career starts. Only Deonta Vaughn (2007-10) is ahead of Clark having appeared in the starting lineup 123 times during his Bearcats career. If Clark remains in the starting lineup in each of the upcoming games this season, he would tie Vaughn on January 31 in a home game with Houston and break the record on the road at UConn on Feb. 3.
• Clark moved up one more position on the all-time scoring ledger in program history, surpassing Rick Roberson (1967-69) for the #31 spot all-time. Roberson previously held the spot with 1,196 points before Clark scored 18 points in the game to bring his career total to 1,201 points. Clark moved ahead of Roberson in the second half as he collected a pass in the post, turned and hit a soft hook shot over the defense while being fouled to give him 14 points in the game. He would convert the free throw. Next on the list is LaZelle Duden (1993-95), who is #30 all-time with 1,219 points, just 18 points ahead of Clark.
• Clark had eight rebounds on the night, running his career total to 953. The American Athletic Conference's career and Mick Cronin era leader on the boards ranks sixth on UC's career chart and needs 31 rebounds to pass Dwight Jones (983/1980-82) for fifth all-time.
• Jacob Evans III entered the game with 968 career points and scored 18 in the game to bring his career total to 986, leaving him 14 shy of reaching the 1,000-point club. Evans also added four rebounds, four assists and a steal.
• Jarron Cumberland had 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals, his 10th double-digit scoring game of the season and 24th for his career.
• Kyle Washington finished with nine points, eight rebounds and a block, the eight time this season with five or more rebounds.