TicketsCincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
12/11 Cincinnati (17-2, 6-0 AAC) 86, ECU (8-11, 2-6 AAC) 60
January 20, 2018 • BB&T Arena (Highland Heights, Ky.)
Today's Attendance: 8,879
Starting Five: G Justin Jenifer • F Jacob Evans III • F Gary Clark • F Kyle Washington • G Jarron Cumberland
The Turning Point: After allowing the visitors to shoot 55.2 percent from the field in the first half and score 38 points, the Cincinnati defense clamped down to limit ECU to 30 percent from the field and just 22 points to fall as the Bearcats turned an eight-point halftime lead into a 26-point victory. UC forced six turnovers and blocked four shots in the second half while also turning the tables on ECU's Shawn Williams by limiting him to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting after he tallied 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the first half.
Leaders: Both Jacob Evans III and Kyle Washington led all scorers with 17 points each in the contest as four Bearcats scored at least 10 points, including Gary Clark, who finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds to record his 25th career double-double. Also scoring in double figures was Jarron Cumberland who tallied 14 in the contest. The Pirates were led by both Isaac Fleming and Shawn Williams as each scored 15 points to lead ECU while Kentrell Barkley scored 10 as well.
// TEAM NOTES
12/11 Cincinnati (17-2, 6-0 AAC) 86, ECU (8-11, 2-6 AAC) 60
January 20, 2018 • BB&T Arena (Highland Heights, Ky.)
Today's Attendance: 8,879
Starting Five: G Justin Jenifer • F Jacob Evans III • F Gary Clark • F Kyle Washington • G Jarron Cumberland
The Turning Point: After allowing the visitors to shoot 55.2 percent from the field in the first half and score 38 points, the Cincinnati defense clamped down to limit ECU to 30 percent from the field and just 22 points to fall as the Bearcats turned an eight-point halftime lead into a 26-point victory. UC forced six turnovers and blocked four shots in the second half while also turning the tables on ECU's Shawn Williams by limiting him to just two points on 1-of-8 shooting after he tallied 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the first half.
Leaders: Both Jacob Evans III and Kyle Washington led all scorers with 17 points each in the contest as four Bearcats scored at least 10 points, including Gary Clark, who finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds to record his 25th career double-double. Also scoring in double figures was Jarron Cumberland who tallied 14 in the contest. The Pirates were led by both Isaac Fleming and Shawn Williams as each scored 15 points to lead ECU while Kentrell Barkley scored 10 as well.
// TEAM NOTES
- With the win, Cincinnati improved to 17-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the American Athletic Conference on the strength of their 10th win in a row while ECU dropped to 8-13 overall and 2-6 in the AAC.
- IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati improved to 12-1 all-time in its series with ECU while also maintaining a perfect 7-0 mark in games played on UC's home court. The Bearcats are also 5-1 all-time when playing in Greenville, N.C.
- The win today extended UC's nation-leading home winning streak to 36 games and also has won 20 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.
- Today's win marks the 1,774th victory in program history and moves the Bearcats into a tie for 15th place on the NCAA all-time victories list with Illinois.
- HALFTIME REPORT: Cincinnati carried a 46-38 lead into the break despite ECU shooting 55 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes of action. Six different Bearcats scored at least six points in the opening half with Jarron Cumberland leading the way as he netted nine points with Cane Broome scoring seven points while Jacob Evans II, Gary Clark, Kyle Washington and Nysier Brooks each tallying six points. Shawn Williams led all scorers with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting. The Pirates led for the better part of eight minutes into the game before UC went on a 13-5 run to take a 27-20 lead with just over eight minutes remaining before the break.
- Today marked the first time in six league games that UC had allowed an opponent to score more than 56 points. In the previous five AAC contests, the Bearcats limited their opponents to 48 (Memphis), 53 (Temple), 56 (SMU), 55 (USF) and 38 (UCF). So far this year, AAC foes are averaging 51.7 points per contest against the Bearcats' defense.
- For the eighth time in 19 games this year, the Bearcats had at least four players score in double figures. It marks the eighth time this season that four Bearcats have scored 10 or more in a game and the 10th time that at least four have done so after one game each of having five and six in double digits.
- UC's defense recorded 10 blocks in the game, including seven in the second half, with both Kyle Washington and Eliel Nsoseme recording three each, to mark the fifth time this year the Bearcats have recorded seven or more in a game. Cincinnati has recorded 32 blocked shots in six American Athletic Conference games, giving the Bearcats an average of 5.3 blocks per game.
- The seven turnovers UC committed in the game ties for the lowest number of the season after the Bearcats were forced into seven by both Coppin State and Alabama State. In fact, the seven turnovers marks the eighth time this year – and the third-consecutive game – that the Bearcats have committed fewer than 10 in a game.
- Cincinnati not only recorded 46 rebounds in the game, but also tallied 22 offensive rebounds, marking the second time this season the Bearcats have recorded 20 or more in a contest. The previous instance came in the season-opener against Savannah State with UC pulling down 25 offensive boards.
- Gary Clark finished the game with 14 points and 14 rebounds to record the 25th double-double of his career and third in as many games. Clark, who has the most double-doubles in the Mick Cronin Era (Yancy Gates is second with 23 from 2009-12), also inched closer to joining the 1,000/1,000 club as he now has 992 rebounds for his career and now needs just eight more boards to become the fifth player in Bearcats history to join the group and first since Robert Miller finished his career with 1,498 points and 1,060 rebounds in 1979.
- With 14 points, Gary Clark moved up to No. 29 on the program's all-time scoring ledger with 1,242 points for his career. Clark moved ahead of Eric Hicks, who scored 1,231 points from 2003-06 and is now trailing Steve Collier (1975-78) for No. 28 on the list after Collier's career ended with 1,252 points.
- Similarly, Jacob Evans III moved into the Top 50 on the all-time scoring list as he finished the day with 17 points to bring his career total to 1,029 points. He moved past John Howard, who was at #50 most recently after scoring 1,013 points from 1966-68, and is now trailing Field Williams (2001-04) by just one after Williams tallied 1,030 points in his career.
- Clark was among the Starting Five for the Bearcats once again today, marking the 120th time in his UC career that he was in the starting lineup. He is now three starts away from tying Deonta Vaughn (2007-10) for the most starts in UC history and, should he continue to be among the starters in the coming games, he will tie Vaughn on January 31 when Houston comes to town (7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network) and then would break the mark with his 124th career start on the road at UConn on February 3 (Noon on ESPN or ESPN2).
- Cane Broome finished the game with seven points while also dishing-out a career-high-tying six assists while committing zero turnovers and adding one steal. It marks the third time this year and the fourth time in his career that he has posted six helpers.