TicketsCINCINNATI, OHIO - The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team overcame a slow start offensively to defeat the Bryant Bulldogs, 73-58, Sunday night at Fifth Third Arena. David DeJulius led the Bearcats with 16 points, including 14 in the first half.
It was the first meeting ever between the two teams. The victory improved the Bearcats' overall record to 7-2 and their home record to 5-1.
A 10-0 run from 13:54 to 8:35 in the second half gave the Bearcats a comfortable 50-37 lead, which was highlighted by a couple of dunks on the fast break from John Newman III and Ody Oguama.
After missing their first 11 shots of the game, the Bearcats shot 26-47 (55.3%) from the field from there on. Cincinnati took the lead at 6:05 on a DeJulius layup in the first half and never gave it up.
Despite the slow start, the Bearcats made nine out of their next 11 shots, including six in a row. They went on a 23-16 run during that stretch of shooting. DeJulius scored seven points in one minute and 42 seconds, including draining a three that gave the Bearcats a 25-22 lead.
Even though the Bearcats' offense didn't get off to its greatest start, the defense made up for it. Cincinnati forced nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes and held Bryant scoreless from 12:13 to 9:06 in the first half. The Bulldogs were 0-5 in that span and only made 10 out of 30 shots in the first half.
The teams began the game a combined 2-20 from the field. Bryant led 3-0 until the Bearcats made a couple free throws three minutes and 20 seconds into the game. Cincinnati didn't make its first field goal until Viktor Lakhin made a jump shot to make it 8-6 Bryant with 12:33 left in the first half.
DeJulius scored 13 of the Bearcats' 19 points over the final seven minutes of the first half. He was UC's leading scorer in the first half with 14 points. The Bearcats led by five points at the break.
It was more of the same early in the second half. There wasn't a lot of points, but UC was able to hold onto its lead thanks to its defense. The Bearcats held the Bulldogs scoreless for five minutes and 44 seconds from 14:19 to 8:35. They forced 16 turnovers tonight, including nine from the first half.
The Bearcats' lead got to as many as 19 points when leading 72-53.
WES MILLER QUOTES
"I think there is a lot of things we can improve on, a lot of things we got to do better. I pushed them really hard in practice this week. I am pleased we found a way to win and found a way to put some defensive stops together and run in transition at times. That was some of the good stuff."
"I am pleased we got through this stretch. The guys are trying, practicing hard. I think we can get a lot better, which is a unique feeling as a coach. It will be nice to have a couple days to catch our breath and get back to being healthy."
"I can have some fun after we win. We had a great start at Miami. It has been different things. Tonight, the free throw line had a lot to do with the slow start. I think John (Newman III, wing) missed a two-incher. So, we missed a couple two inchers, we missed a couple free throws. I think if those things go in, we are feeling we had a good start."
NOTABLE
- Ody Oguama also had a season-high 3 steals.
- The Bearcats forced 16 turnover tonight, the second-most of the season.
- The Bearcats held Bryant to just 19-59 (32.2%) from the field.
- The offense had 15 assists tonight, its most since the Presbyterian game on Nov. 18.
- The Bearcats had 39 bench points tonight, their third-most of the season.
- UC (35-30) has led at the half in all nine games this season.
- Hayden Koval earned his first start of the season. He started nine times at UNC Greensboro last season and 94 games at Central Arkansas the previous three seasons. It was also the third different starting lineup this season.
- Viktor Lakhin (13 points, 11 rebounds) produced his first-career double-double and the second by the Bearcats in consecutive games. The 13 points and 11 rebounds were both career-highs for him
NEXT UP
The Bearcats won't need to travel far for their next game. They'll be taking on rival Xavier in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Dec. 11 at 8:30 p.m. The game will be aired on FS1.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
It was the first meeting ever between the two teams. The victory improved the Bearcats' overall record to 7-2 and their home record to 5-1.
A 10-0 run from 13:54 to 8:35 in the second half gave the Bearcats a comfortable 50-37 lead, which was highlighted by a couple of dunks on the fast break from John Newman III and Ody Oguama.
After missing their first 11 shots of the game, the Bearcats shot 26-47 (55.3%) from the field from there on. Cincinnati took the lead at 6:05 on a DeJulius layup in the first half and never gave it up.
Despite the slow start, the Bearcats made nine out of their next 11 shots, including six in a row. They went on a 23-16 run during that stretch of shooting. DeJulius scored seven points in one minute and 42 seconds, including draining a three that gave the Bearcats a 25-22 lead.
Even though the Bearcats' offense didn't get off to its greatest start, the defense made up for it. Cincinnati forced nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes and held Bryant scoreless from 12:13 to 9:06 in the first half. The Bulldogs were 0-5 in that span and only made 10 out of 30 shots in the first half.
The teams began the game a combined 2-20 from the field. Bryant led 3-0 until the Bearcats made a couple free throws three minutes and 20 seconds into the game. Cincinnati didn't make its first field goal until Viktor Lakhin made a jump shot to make it 8-6 Bryant with 12:33 left in the first half.
DeJulius scored 13 of the Bearcats' 19 points over the final seven minutes of the first half. He was UC's leading scorer in the first half with 14 points. The Bearcats led by five points at the break.
It was more of the same early in the second half. There wasn't a lot of points, but UC was able to hold onto its lead thanks to its defense. The Bearcats held the Bulldogs scoreless for five minutes and 44 seconds from 14:19 to 8:35. They forced 16 turnovers tonight, including nine from the first half.
The Bearcats' lead got to as many as 19 points when leading 72-53.
WES MILLER QUOTES
"I think there is a lot of things we can improve on, a lot of things we got to do better. I pushed them really hard in practice this week. I am pleased we found a way to win and found a way to put some defensive stops together and run in transition at times. That was some of the good stuff."
"I am pleased we got through this stretch. The guys are trying, practicing hard. I think we can get a lot better, which is a unique feeling as a coach. It will be nice to have a couple days to catch our breath and get back to being healthy."
"I can have some fun after we win. We had a great start at Miami. It has been different things. Tonight, the free throw line had a lot to do with the slow start. I think John (Newman III, wing) missed a two-incher. So, we missed a couple two inchers, we missed a couple free throws. I think if those things go in, we are feeling we had a good start."
NOTABLE
- Ody Oguama also had a season-high 3 steals.
- The Bearcats forced 16 turnover tonight, the second-most of the season.
- The Bearcats held Bryant to just 19-59 (32.2%) from the field.
- The offense had 15 assists tonight, its most since the Presbyterian game on Nov. 18.
- The Bearcats had 39 bench points tonight, their third-most of the season.
- UC (35-30) has led at the half in all nine games this season.
- Hayden Koval earned his first start of the season. He started nine times at UNC Greensboro last season and 94 games at Central Arkansas the previous three seasons. It was also the third different starting lineup this season.
- Viktor Lakhin (13 points, 11 rebounds) produced his first-career double-double and the second by the Bearcats in consecutive games. The 13 points and 11 rebounds were both career-highs for him
NEXT UP
The Bearcats won't need to travel far for their next game. They'll be taking on rival Xavier in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Dec. 11 at 8:30 p.m. The game will be aired on FS1.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.