TicketsVILLANOVA, Pa. -- The No. 14 Cincinnati men's basketball team's undefeated start was halted at six games as Villanova punched first and led the rest of the way in a 68-60 decision on Tuesday night.
Villanova made four-straight shots to lead 16-11 at the 11:43 media timeout. Cincinnati had not trailed after 15:18 of the first half or by more than two points all season.
The Wildcats sank a triple from the wing as time expired in the first half for a 37-28 lead.
Dillon Mitchell's second 3-pointer of the season, followed by a turnaround jumper in the paint, gave Cincinnati a boost early in the second half to pull within 41-36 at the 15:36 media stoppage. Two Simas Lukosius free-throws brought UC within 43-41 at 13:43, the smallest deficit since 13:22 of the first half.
The Wildcats' ensuing 11-3 run gave them a 54-44 lead. As UC flirted with a six-point deficit and less than four minutes left, Villanova hit back-to-back treys to go up 61-49 with 2:53 left.
Jizzle James led the Bearcats with 19 points and five assists. Lukosius had 13, making for both scoring in double-figures in all seven games so far.
Cincinnati had won the last three contests against their old Big East rivals heading into the night.
FROM WES MILLER
"I thought they had a really nice game plan. They came out and changed defenses early, switching ball screens on the first possession that surprised us a little bit. We saw a little of that on tape with Dixon, but not with the two centers unless it was a late switch. I thought that forced us into a lot of isolated, one-on-one situations that stagnated us. We didn't handle that well, but give them credit for that. I didn't like us defensively in the first half at all. I didn't think we carried over our game plan in the things we value.
"We did not get hands on the ball, and they beat us to loose balls and rebounds. We created a little bit of a hole for ourselves there. I thought we had some good moments in the second half digging out of that, and I expect that of our group."
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Howard on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Villanova made four-straight shots to lead 16-11 at the 11:43 media timeout. Cincinnati had not trailed after 15:18 of the first half or by more than two points all season.
The Wildcats sank a triple from the wing as time expired in the first half for a 37-28 lead.
Dillon Mitchell's second 3-pointer of the season, followed by a turnaround jumper in the paint, gave Cincinnati a boost early in the second half to pull within 41-36 at the 15:36 media stoppage. Two Simas Lukosius free-throws brought UC within 43-41 at 13:43, the smallest deficit since 13:22 of the first half.
The Wildcats' ensuing 11-3 run gave them a 54-44 lead. As UC flirted with a six-point deficit and less than four minutes left, Villanova hit back-to-back treys to go up 61-49 with 2:53 left.
Jizzle James led the Bearcats with 19 points and five assists. Lukosius had 13, making for both scoring in double-figures in all seven games so far.
Cincinnati had won the last three contests against their old Big East rivals heading into the night.
FROM WES MILLER
"I thought they had a really nice game plan. They came out and changed defenses early, switching ball screens on the first possession that surprised us a little bit. We saw a little of that on tape with Dixon, but not with the two centers unless it was a late switch. I thought that forced us into a lot of isolated, one-on-one situations that stagnated us. We didn't handle that well, but give them credit for that. I didn't like us defensively in the first half at all. I didn't think we carried over our game plan in the things we value.
"We did not get hands on the ball, and they beat us to loose balls and rebounds. We created a little bit of a hole for ourselves there. I thought we had some good moments in the second half digging out of that, and I expect that of our group."
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Howard on Sunday at 2 p.m.