TicketsFORT WORTH, Texas - Cincinnati is returning to the AAC Championship title game for the fourth consecutive time after outlasting tournament top-seed Wichita State 60-59 Saturday at Dickies Arena.
Mason Madsen had eight of his team-high 10 points in the second half and Tari Eason tallied nine points and a game-best 11 rebounds with three steals and three blocks as the Bearcats won their eighth consecutive AAC tournament game. UC will attempt to win its third consecutive AAC Tournament crown after defeating Houston to claim the trophy in 2018 and 2019. The Bearcats fell to SMU in the 2017 title game.
The Bearcats will play Houston in the league tournament title game Sunday at 3:15 p.m. on ESPN. The Cougars defeated Memphis 76-74 following UC's win over Wichita State.
Mika Adams-Woods made a pair of free throws with 1:59 left and Eason converted a driving layup about 40 seconds later to put the Bearcats up 59-55 with 1:16 left.
Eason made one of two from the foul line with 19 seconds left to put the Bearcats up 60-57.
When Eason missed his second free throw, Wichita State's Alterique Gilbert raced to the other end and scored on driving layup to pull the Shockers within 60-59 with 14 seconds left.
Eason missed the front end of a one-and-one on the next play, but Jeremiah Davenport grabbed the rebound and was fouled with eight seconds left.
Davenport missed the front end of the one-and one to give Wichita State a chance but Gilbert's 35-footer was off target.
Gilbert led three Shockers in double figures with 14 points and five assists. Morris Udeze had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Keith Williams helped UC grab a 35-32 halftime lead, scoring all of his nine point in the first half before leaving with an injury. Davenport finished with eight points and nine rebounds. David DeJulius registered seven points and four assists.
The Bearcats, who have won nine of the their last 12 games since starting the season 3-7, are a win away from earning a ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive event. UC is one of six schools in the nation to appear in the last nine NCAA Tournaments along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina.
Mason Madsen had eight of his team-high 10 points in the second half and Tari Eason tallied nine points and a game-best 11 rebounds with three steals and three blocks as the Bearcats won their eighth consecutive AAC tournament game. UC will attempt to win its third consecutive AAC Tournament crown after defeating Houston to claim the trophy in 2018 and 2019. The Bearcats fell to SMU in the 2017 title game.
The Bearcats will play Houston in the league tournament title game Sunday at 3:15 p.m. on ESPN. The Cougars defeated Memphis 76-74 following UC's win over Wichita State.
Mika Adams-Woods made a pair of free throws with 1:59 left and Eason converted a driving layup about 40 seconds later to put the Bearcats up 59-55 with 1:16 left.
Eason made one of two from the foul line with 19 seconds left to put the Bearcats up 60-57.
When Eason missed his second free throw, Wichita State's Alterique Gilbert raced to the other end and scored on driving layup to pull the Shockers within 60-59 with 14 seconds left.
Eason missed the front end of a one-and-one on the next play, but Jeremiah Davenport grabbed the rebound and was fouled with eight seconds left.
Davenport missed the front end of the one-and one to give Wichita State a chance but Gilbert's 35-footer was off target.
Gilbert led three Shockers in double figures with 14 points and five assists. Morris Udeze had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Keith Williams helped UC grab a 35-32 halftime lead, scoring all of his nine point in the first half before leaving with an injury. Davenport finished with eight points and nine rebounds. David DeJulius registered seven points and four assists.
The Bearcats, who have won nine of the their last 12 games since starting the season 3-7, are a win away from earning a ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive event. UC is one of six schools in the nation to appear in the last nine NCAA Tournaments along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina.