Throwback Unis Return as Bearcats Host Memphis Sunday

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati men's basketball team is back home and looking to extend its win streak to four games when it hosts Memphis at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Bearcats will also rock their 1970s throwbacks for the second time this season.

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SPECIAL SALUTE
The Cincinnati athletics department, at the first media timeout, will recognize members of the UC Health and Medical Center staff who aided in the treatment and recovery of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin following his in-game cardiac arrest on Jan. 2. 

THE RUNDOWN
Cincinnati rolled for its third-straight win in a dominant 85-69 win over South Florida on Wednesday, courtesy of David DeJulius (16 of 21 points in first half) and Landers Nolley II (16 of 21 in second). UC led by as much as 29 in the second half, notching seven treys before halftime for a 47-29 margin, its largest since the season opener.

DeJulius added seven more assists to pad his AAC-only play lead to 6.0 per game. He went 7-for-8 against the Bulls after going an uncharacteristic 8-for-38 the previous four games. He and Nolley recorded their seventh and sixth 20-point games of the season (third time in same game). Nolley was also one rebound shy of his fourth double-double in five games while tying a season-high of six assists. Other notable contributors were freshman Dan Skillings, whose 11 points marked his second game in double-figures, while Kalu Ezikpe went 3-for-3 in five minutes to tie a season-high six points. He has played four-straight games after not seeing action the four prior.

UC committed only four turnovers (the last a shot clock violation in the waning, decided seconds), one off a school record. Out of 14 games in school history with 4 or fewer, two have happened in the last month. All 14 wins have come when leading at the half, and only two have single-digit outcomes (Wichita State, SMU). The Bearcats' 36.2 overall three-point clip leads the AAC after ranking eighth last season at 31.5 percent. Nolley's overall 44.3 percent mark is 17th nationally, and in AAC play, he (50 percent) and Mika Adams-Woods (48.4) lead the pack. Defensively in those seven games, UC's 65.1 ppg allowed is second to No. 1 Houston.

SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati's 47-37 all-time mark includes an 11-6 record in AAC play. These two schools were charter members of the Metro (1975-91), Great Midwest (1991-95) and Conference USA (1995) before the Bearcats joined the Big East from 2005-13.

Nolley, the Bearcats' leading scorer at 15.4 ppg, squares off against his former team. He collected 13 points and six rebounds in his last UC matchup last year after playing 31 minutes off the bench in the first one (seven points, five boards). He started 43 Memphis games over two seasons, averaging 11.5 ppg.

The Jan. 9 meeting between the teams was an instant classic, with the Tigers prevailing 87-80 remains the most combined points of any UC game this season. The Bearcats' 16 three-pointers (30 attempts) were a FedExForum team-collegiate record and remain fifth in program history. Memphis claimed the Feb. 15 matchup as well, which was postponed from Feb. 3 due to heavy ice and snow in Cincinnati. The Bearcats trailed by 15 at the break and got within 60-56 with eight minutes left, but ultimately fell 81-74. Cincinnati led by one with two minutes left, but Memphis' home-court advantage was too much to overcome. Jeremiah Davenport rained down seven threes on 10 tries, despite foul trouble and limited first-half play, while Adams-Woods and John Newman III added three each as well.