Tickets2018-19 Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
rv/rv Cincinnati (19-3, 8-1 AAC) 73, SMU (12-9, 4-5 AAC) 68
February 2, 2019 • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati)
Starting Five: G Keith Williams • G Justin Jenifer • F Trevon Scott • C Nysier Brooks • G Jarron Cumberland
The Turning Point: Although Cincinnati led by 10 points with just under 17 minutes remaining in the game, SMU continued to chip in the advantage, tying the game at 57 with 7:21 remaining and again at 60-60 with 6:17 remaining. From there, UC outscored the visitors, 13-8, with Nysier Brooks scoring on a layup that was credited on a goal-tending call that put the Bearcats back into the lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Down the stretch, the Bearcats were 4-of-9 from the free throw line with Cane Broome connecting on a pair of shots from the stripe to secure the outcome.
Leaders: Jarron Cumberland led the charge once again as he not only scored 24 points, but also led the team in rebounds (nine) and assists (five), leaving him one board shy of his second career double-double. Cumberland was one of four Bearcats in double figures on the night as Keith Williams scored 13, Cane Broome added 11 and Nysier Brooks scored 10. The Mustangs had four players in double-figures with Jahmal McMurray leading SMU with 21 points. Isiaha Mike (17), Jimmy Whitt, Jr. (12) and Feron Hunt (11) also scored for a team that scored just one point off the bench on the night.
// TEAM NOTES
// PLAYER NOTES
rv/rv Cincinnati (19-3, 8-1 AAC) 73, SMU (12-9, 4-5 AAC) 68
February 2, 2019 • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati)
Starting Five: G Keith Williams • G Justin Jenifer • F Trevon Scott • C Nysier Brooks • G Jarron Cumberland
The Turning Point: Although Cincinnati led by 10 points with just under 17 minutes remaining in the game, SMU continued to chip in the advantage, tying the game at 57 with 7:21 remaining and again at 60-60 with 6:17 remaining. From there, UC outscored the visitors, 13-8, with Nysier Brooks scoring on a layup that was credited on a goal-tending call that put the Bearcats back into the lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Down the stretch, the Bearcats were 4-of-9 from the free throw line with Cane Broome connecting on a pair of shots from the stripe to secure the outcome.
Leaders: Jarron Cumberland led the charge once again as he not only scored 24 points, but also led the team in rebounds (nine) and assists (five), leaving him one board shy of his second career double-double. Cumberland was one of four Bearcats in double figures on the night as Keith Williams scored 13, Cane Broome added 11 and Nysier Brooks scored 10. The Mustangs had four players in double-figures with Jahmal McMurray leading SMU with 21 points. Isiaha Mike (17), Jimmy Whitt, Jr. (12) and Feron Hunt (11) also scored for a team that scored just one point off the bench on the night.
// TEAM NOTES
- With the victory, Cincinnati improves to 19-3 overall and 8-1 in the American Athletic Conference while visiting SMU fell to 12-9 overall and 4-5 in the league.
- IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati remaining perfect at home against SMU in the all-time series at 8-0 with the win that raised the Bearcats' all-time lead to 11-5 in the series. The Bearcats have also won four in a row in the series.
- The Bearcats are now 46-2 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season. They entered the game today leading the nation in home wins (45) and held the highest winning percentage (.957) since the start of the 2016-17 season. When including all games played since the start of the 2016-17 season, the Bearcats are now one of three teams that have recorded 80 or more victories in that span, including Gonzaga (88) and Villanova (85)(entering Thursday).
- With the win, Cincinnati is now 46-4 in home AAC games since joining the league when it began in the 2013-14 season. In the previous five seasons, UC posted records of 8-1, 8-1, 8-1, 9-0 and 8-1 before starting this year at 5-0 with tonight's win. Cincinnati also holds a 31-2 record in home AAC games since the start of the 2015-16 season with losses coming to Temple (77-70, 12/29/15, at Fifth Third Arena) and Wichita State (76-72, 2/18/18, at BB&T Arena).
- To date, Cincinnati has won 23 consecutive home AAC games inside Fifth Third Arena, winning 18 straight before the renovation of FTA and now 5-0 this year in the return to campus after playing at BB&T Arena last year.
- HALFTIME REPORT: Both teams shot well in the first half with the Bearcats connecting on 53 percent of their shots while SMU hit 45 percent as Cincinnati held a 42-35 lead at the break. After the Mustangs took an early 2-0 lead on their opening possession, the Bearcats responded by hitting their first four shots and built a lead as large as 12 points. Both teams strung together runs of 6-0 or better at least twice in the first half as they combined for nine total turnovers (SMU 5, UC 4). Jarron Cumberland led all scorers with 13 points as he opened his night with two-consecutive three-pointers while also leading the Bearcats with six rebounds and tying for the lead with three assists.
- The Bearcats finished the night with 16 assists with three players (Jarron Cumberland 5, Cane Broome 3, Justin Jenifer 3) handing out three or more on the night. In the five home games UC has played against conference foes this year, it has recorded at least 14 assists with four of the five contests seeing the Bearcats with 15+.
- Both teams connected on better than 43 percent shooting from the floor tonight with the Bearcats connecting on 48.1 of their attempts. That marks the 10th time this year UC has shot 47 percent or better from the floor. Tonight's average also included the Bearcats shooting 38.5 percent from three, their 11th time this season going 35 percent or better.
- The UC bench scored 20 points on the night, marking the 10th time this season. The Bearcats, who have allowed 15.7 bench points from their opponents this year, limited the Mustangs to just one tonight, the lowest of the season and the seventh time an opponent has not scored double-digit bench points.
// PLAYER NOTES
- Jarron Cumberland finished 20 or more points for an AAC-high 11th time this season and for the 14th time in his career. He scored 24 on the night, connected on 50 percent shooting in all three areas, including 9-of-18 from the field, 5-of-10 from three and 1-of-2 from the line. In the Mick Cronin Era, Cumberland is now tied with Deonta Vaughn (2007-08) for the second-most 20-plus point games in a season, with Sean Kilpatrick (2013-14) leading the way with 19. On a career level, Cumberland's 14 ranks third behind Kilpatrick (2011-14) with 37 and Vaughn (2007-10) with 27.
- Tonight marked the second time this season that Cumberland led the team in all three offensive categories (24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists). The first instance came against UConn when he scored 22 points, pulled down six boards and dished out seven helpers against the Huskies.
- Cumberland's five made triples ties his season best (vs. Tulsa, 1/24/19) and left him one shy of equaling his career best of six he drained against USF at home last year (1/29/17).
- With his 24 points tonight, Cumberland climbed to 39th place on Cincinnati's all-time scoring list with 1,117 points.
- Keith Williams scored 13 points against SMU, marking the 15th time he has scored 10 or more points in a game this season.
- Trevor Moore hit a trio of three-pointers against the Mustangs, match his career high. He has made three three-pointers in a game three times this season.