Postgame Notes: Cincinnati 72, Wichita State 62

2018-19 Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
rv/rv Cincinnati (21-4, 10-2 AAC) 72, Wichita State (12-12, 5-7 AAC) 62
February 17, 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: In a game with runs from both teams, the Bearcats pulled away for good with just under 12 minutes remaining in the game as Cincinnati went on a 14-3 run to extend its six-point lead to 15 (58-43) and grew that advantage to 19 while remaining ahead by double digits for nearly the rest of the way. Jarron Cumberland scored five of his game-high 27 points in that run before Keith Williams put the game away late, going 4-of-4 from the line in the final minute of play for the 72-62 victory and regular season sweep of the Shockers.

Leaders: Jarron Cumberland was the top scorer for the Bearcats for the 24th time this year as he pumped in 27 points to lead a trio of scorers with double figures that also included Keith Williams (15) and Cane Broome (12). Cumberland drained a career-high six treys in the win as four players recorded six or more rebounds and two posted four or more assists, including Cumberland's team-high five. The Shockers were led by Dexter Denis, who scored 14 points, while Markis McDuffie added 13.

// TEAM NOTES

•  Cincinnati moved to 21-4 overall and 10-2 in the American Athletic Conference while Wichita State fell to 12-12 overall and 5-7 in league action.
• IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati moved to 21-12 all-time in its series with Wichita State while also sweeping the season series. The Bearcats are now 12-4 all-time against the Shockers when playing in the Queen City and 9-8 when the teams meet at WSU.
• The Bearcats are now 47-2 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season. They entered the game today tied for the national lead in home wins (46) with Texas Tech and held the highest winning percentage (.958) since the start of the 2016-17 season. When including all games played since the start of the 2016-17 season, the Bearcats now hold an 82-15 record, which is the third-most wins in that span nationally, breaking ties with both Michigan (81-23) and Kansas (81-19). Gonzaga (92) and Villanova (87) are the only two schools with more victories in that span.
• Cincinnati has won 24 consecutive AAC home games and holds an overall record of 47-4 in AAC home 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 6-0 with tonight's win. 
• HALFTIME REPORT: With 8:41 remaining in the opening half, Wichita State's Markis McDuffie hit a three to stake the visitors to a 20-19 lead before the Bearcats would respond, limiting the Shockers to just four points the rest of the way for a 34-24 lead at the break. Jarron Cumberland led all scorers with 14 points in the opening stanza while Cane Broome chipped in eight and Keith Williams five while the defense, led by four blocks and five rebounds from Nysier Brooks, shutdown the Shockers in later stages of the half as UC held WSU scoreless over the last 2:52 of play, holding the Shockers to one made basket in their final 12 attempts, including 0-of-4 to close out the half. Samajae Haynes-Jones led the visitors with six points while McDuffie and Asbjørn Midtgaard each chipped in five.
• GOING LOW: The Bearcats limited the Shockers to 24 points in the opening half, marking the eighth time UC has done so in 2018-19, and the second time UC has done so to WSU after holding a 24-23 lead at the break in Wichita earlier this year. The Bearcats also have held its foe to 29 or fewer points in the opening half in 14 of 25 games this year (56 percent) and for the first time in the last five games after surrendering 35 in three straight and 34 in the last outing.
• Cincinnati rejected eight shots in the game with Nysier Brooks swatting five and the trio of Keith Williams, Trevon Scott and Rashawn Fredericks each blocked one. The block total ranks tied for as the second highest this season behind only the nine posted against USF at home earlier this season and equals the output from both the NC Central and Tulane games.
• When combining blocks and steals this season, today's 14 (eight blocks and six steals) marks the eighth time UC has combined for 12 or more in a game and the first time in seven games. The last time the Bearcats posted 12 or more came against USF when the posted 21, including nine blocks and 12 steals.
• With those six steals, Cincinnati has stolen the ball five or more times in 19 of its 25 games this year, including the last three.
• Cincinnati recorded 42 rebounds in the game, including 10 on the offensive glass, to mark the fifth time it has recorded 40 or more rebounds in a game. The last time they did so was at Temple when the Bearcats pulled down a season-high-tying 46.

// PLAYER NOTES

• Keith Williams was one of three Bearcats that scored in double figures, finishing with 15 points overall, including a nearly-perfect 9-of-10 showing at the charity stripe. His work at the free throw line produced a pair of career-highs as his nine makes surpassed the six he scored against Milwaukee earlier this year while his 10 attempts bettered the eight he has attempted twice, most recently against Northern Kentucky. Of those nine makes tonight, four came in the final minute of play.
• While Nysier Brooks finished the game with just three points and six rebounds, he did have a big day defensively as he swatted five shots to tie a career high (5 at ECU, 1/15/17). Between his five blocks against the Pirates and the five posted today against the Shockers, the only other Bearcats player to record five or more swats in a game was Gary Clark, who also tallied five against Mississippi State at home (1/24/18).
• Rashawn Fredericks recorded a team-high-tying eight rebounds (with Trevon Scott) to reset his career high. His previous best was six at Memphis (2/7/19) last week, giving him career-high boards in two of his last three games.
• Jarron Cumberland finished with 27 points in the game with 18 of those points coming from behind the arc as he finished 6 of 10 from three to tie his career high for made treys. He twice made five treys earlier this year, including against SMU 2/2/19), the Bearcats' previous home game, and equaled his career best that he drained against USF last year at home (1/29/17).
• ON THE LIST: Cumberland has now scored 1,188 points in his career and remains 34th on the all-time ledger at UC, sitting just eight points behind Rick Roberson (1967-69) for 33rd after Roberson finished his career with 1,196. Cumberland is also 55 points away from reaching the Top 30 where Jacob Evans III, who was on hand today to receive his AAC Championship ring, sits 30th overall with 1,233 points (2016-18).