Postgame Notes: Cincinnati 93, UCLA 64

2018-19 Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
rv/rv Cincinnati (10-2) 93, UCLA (7-4) 64
December 19, 2018 • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati)

Starting Five: G Keith Williams • G Justin Jenifer • F Tre Scott • C Nysier Brooks • G Jarron Cumberland

The Turning Point: The Bruins jumped out to an early eight-point advantage through the opening seven minutes of play before the Bearcats came alive and went on a 17-2 run over the next three minutes to take a 26-19 lead they would not relinquish, growing the advantage to as high as 31. During that run, the Bearcats shot 7-of-7 from the field while holding the visitors without a made field goals. The run started with a three-point basket from Rashawn Fredericks before Jarron Cumberland (3), Nysier Brooks (7), Trevor Moore (2) and Keith Williams (2) all chipped in points.

Leaders: Jarron Cumberland recorded his eighth career 20-plus point scoring performance as he led all players with a game-high 25 points, including 19 in the first half of play, as four Bearcats hit double-digit scoring on the night. Keith Williams added a career-high 19 points while Nysier Brooks was one shy of his career best with 14 points and Justin Jenifer collected 11 points. The Bruins were led by Kris Wilkes, who scored 21 points with five three-point shots made, while Moses Brown (12) and Cody Riley (11) each scored in double figures.

// TEAM NOTES

• Cincinnati improved to 10-2 on the year while UCLA fell to 7-4 overall.
• IN THE SERIES: The Bearcats extended their lead in the all-time series with the win tonight, moving to 4-2 all-time and 1-0 in games played in the Queen City. Cincinnati, which has won two in a row in the series after winning in Los Angeles las year, also is 2-0 all-time in the series when playing at UCLA with the Bruins holding a 2-1 advantage in neutral site games.
• The 93 points scored by Cincinnati are the most in a regulation game in the series, bettering the 82 UC scored in an 82-76 win at UCLA exactly 53 years ago (December 19, 1965). The most points scored in the series came in a double overtime game in the 2002 NCAA Tournament with UCLA winning, 105-101.
• The Bearcats are now a nation-best 40-2 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season.
• HALFTIME REPORT: Cincinnati's defense put on a strong display to limit UCLA to 31 points while Jarron Cumberland led the way with 19 points as the Bearcats built a 48-31 lead at the break. The Bearcats forced nine turnovers, including five steals, while scoring 14 points off those forced miscues while also assisting on 13 of their 19 made baskets. UC also outrebounded the Bruins, pulling down 21 boards to the visitor's 13, including a 9-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Cincinnati scored 48 points in the opening half of play, its second-largest total of the season behind the 59 it scored against visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Today's first-half total also marks fourth time UC has posted 40 or more points in the first 20 minutes.
• The Bearcats shot over 50 percent from the floor and from behind the arc on the night, marking the fifth and third times, respectively, they have done so this year. UC connected on 52.4 percent of all shots, its third-best showing on the year (64.1 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 58.5 vs. NC Central) while its 57.1 shooting from three is UC's second-best performance of the year behind the 57.9 shooting against UAPB.
• Cincinnati posted a +13 rebounding advantage – including an 11-6 edge on the offensive glass – to post its fourth double-digit advantage of the year. The last time the Bearcats did so was against George Mason with a +13 showing that capped three-consecutive double-digit advantages in a row (+12 over Milwaukee and +15 over Western Michigan).
• UC dished out a season-high 24 assists on its 33 made baskets, surpassing the previous season high of 19 that it posted against both NC Central and Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier this season.
• The six turnovers UC committed on the night marked the fourth time this year that the Bearcats have recorded single-digit mistakes while marking their second-best showing behind on the five recorded against Xavier. The other instances game against Ole Miss (7) and Milwaukee (8).
• Tonight's attendance was 12,689, the largest crowd to witness a game inside the newly renovated Fifth Third Arena. It also marked the second game in a row that has been a sellout (12,513 vs. Xavier).

// PLAYER NOTES

• Jarron Cumberland scored 25 points in the game for his eighth career 20-point performance and his fifth this season. Cumberland also recorded the first back-to-back 20-point games in his UC career after scoring 21 points at No. 18 Mississippi State last time out. On the night, Cumberland was 9-of-17 shooting from the floor with a season-high-tying four made treys and a 3-of-4 performance at the line. He also recorded a team-high three offensive rebounds (five total) while posting two assists and a pair of steals.
• With those 25 points, Cumberland crossed the 900-point scoring threshold in his UC career, moving his total to 905. He is now 95 points shy of becoming the 53rd player in program history to record 1,000 career points with the Bearcats.
• Keith Williams nearly joined Cumberland in the 20-point scoring category as he finished with a career-high 19 points on the night with an 8-of-13 shooting performance that also saw him go 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. His deep shooting also was a career-high, surpassing the two made treys he has recorded twice, most recently at UNLV. He has now posted career-high scoring performances in back-to-back home games with his previous best of 16 coming against Xavier December 8. Williams also added four assists and three rebounds.
• Despite the 7-foot-1 frame of Moses Brown in the paint, the Bearcats still found success up close as they outscored the Bruins in the paint, 30-22. Nysier Brooks had 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting while Eliel Nsoseme added two points in the interior. Several Bearcats also were able to slash to the hoop with Trevon Scott adding seven points to the total.