Postgame Notes: Cincinnati 78, NKU 65

2018-19 Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
nr/rv Cincinnati (8-1) 78, NKU (8-2) 65
December 4, 2018 • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Starting Five: G Keith Williams • G Justin Jenifer • F Trevon Scott • C Nysier Brooks • G Jarron Cumberland

The Turning Point: A 14-0 run near the midway point of the first half broke open a 13-13 tie and set the Bearcats on their way to their eighth victory in a row on the strength of Trevon Scott's career night. Scott finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for his second career double-double, both of which have come this season. During the run, the Bearcats held the Norse scoreless for 4:30 of game time while also forcing the visitors into a trio of turnovers.

Leaders: Scott had a career night as he collected his second career double-double with 22 points and 10 boards while going 12-of-13 from the free throw line, tops among all players in the game. Scott was one of five Cincinnati players in double figures along with Jarron Cumberland (12) and a trio of players with 10 points each, including Keith Williams, Nysier Brooks and Justin Jennifer. The Norse were led by a pair of players in double digits with Tyler Sharpe scoring 16 and Jalen Tate adding 13.

// TEAM NOTES

• With the win, Cincinnati improved to 8-1 overall this year and have now won eight in a row while the loss dropped Northern Kentucky to 8-2 on the year while seeing their two-game winning streak snapped. So far this year, NKU's lone losses have both come to members of the American Athletic Conference as they lost earlier this year at UCF, 66-53.
• IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati remained perfect against NKU in the all-time series as the Bearcats moved to 8-0 all-time with all eight wins coming in the Queen City. Tonight's game was the first played on campus as the previous sevn saw UC win five times at Riverfront Coliseum and twice at the Cincinnati Gardens.
• AGAINST THE HORIZON: The Bearcats are now 2-0 on the year against members of the Horizon League after defeating Milwaukee 76-64 earlier this season. With the win, Cincinnati is 44-3 all-time against members of the Horizon with Mick Cronin-led teams moving to 7-0 against the league.
• The Bearcats are now 38-2 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season.
• Cincinnati has now opened the year at 8-1 for the second time in the last four seasons with the last time it occurred coming at the start of the 2015-16 campaign.
• HALFTIME REPORT: Both teams came out of the gate shooting well and saw the game tied at 13 at the 12:58 mark before the Bearcats went on a 14-0 run that included three Norse turnovers to build a 14-point lead on their way to a 45-28 lead at the break. Cincinnati would grow that lead to as many as 20 points before taking a 17-point advantage into the intermission. Trevon Scott led the charge with a game-high 14 points in the first half as he was just 2-of-4 from the field, but a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe with the Bearcats going 16-of-18 from the free throw line in the half. Scott nearly had a double-double in the first half as he led the way with a game-high eight rebounds as well. Jalen Tate led the way for NKU with nine points and three rebounds.
• Prior to the last two games UC played (vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and at UNLV), the Bearcats had recorded at least 10 offensive rebounds before settling for eight and nine, respectively. Tonight, UC had 13 at the half and finished the game with 15, its second-highest total of the year behind the 19 recorded against Ohio State in the opener.
• Tonight marked the third time this year that the Bearcats had at least five individuals score in double figures. The last time five scored 10 or more came against Milwaukee (11/16/18) with six hitting double digits against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the previous home game. The Bearcats that hit double figures tonight included Tre Scott (22), Jarron Cumberland (12), Keith Williams (10), Justin Jenifer (10) and Nysier Brooks (10).

// PLAYER NOTES

• Trevon Scott had a monster night against the Norse as the junior poured in a career-high 22 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds for his second career double-double after tallying 15 and 10 against Milwaukee earlier this year. Scott, who had a double-double with his free throw shooting (12-of-13) and rebounds alone, finished the game with 5-of-8 shooting while adding three assists and one block. Scott entered the second half of play already nearing record production as he had 14 points (10-of-10 from the line) and eight rebounds, leaving him one point shy of his career high point total (15). He secured the double-double at the 16:58 mark in the second half as he pulled down a missed free throw attempt.
• Scott was 12-of-13 from the free throw line tonight, easily surpassing his career bests in both attempts and makes. Entering the game, his career high attempts were six, which he had done twice, most recently against Ole Miss in Niceville, Fla., while his four makes, which he tripled tonight, had occurred twice, most recently last year (3/1/18) at Tulane. Prior to missing his final attempt, he would have been the eighth Bearcat to go perfect from the line in a game with at least 10 attempts.
• Eliel Nsoseme finished the game with a career-high six points and career-high-tying eight boards. His point total edged out his previous best of five that he had recorded twice this year, most recently against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He also added eight rebounds for the second game in a row to tie his career high that he has now recorded three times.
• Justin Jenifer celebrated his birthday today with 10 points on perfect shooting as he was 3-of-3 from the field, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while also going 2-of-2 from the line. Jenifer added three assists and zero turnovers while also chipping in three rebounds.