TicketsKANSAS CITY — The ninth-seeded Cincinnati men’s basketball team fell to eighth-seeded UCF, 66-65, in overtime on Wednesday during second round action at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament held at the T-Mobile Center. The Bearcats drop to 18-15 on the year, while the Knights improve to 21-10.
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The Bearcats led 58-50 with 2:16 left, but UCF forced three turnovers to tie the game with one minute left before Cincinnati graduate guard Day Day Thomas’ 3-point attempt as time expired in regulation was short.
In overtime, UCF scored the first four points on a jumper from Jamichael Stillwell and free throws from John Bol. Thomas kept Cincinnati in the game in overtime, making his first three shots of the bonus period, including a 3-pointer that brought the Bearcats within one, 66-65, with 1:30 left. After a couple empty possessions, a scramble in the waning seconds led to a Jalen Celestine 3-point attempt from the right wing, but it glanced the front rim before Stillwell was able to gather it. Stillwell missed both free throws but time ran out on the loose ball to end it.
Thiam tied his career high with a trio 3-pointers, going for the double-double with 18 points and a career-high 16 boards, while freshman guard Keyshuan Tillery provided a spark off the bench with 10 points. Thomas went for 15 points, including seven in the extra session, while graduate guard Jalen Celestine poured in 11.
Thiam’s third triple stretched the UC advantage to 34-29 with 16 minutes remaining. A corner three from junior guard Jizzle James put Cincinnati up by seven, 39-32, with 13:22 remaining. Celestine followed with a 3-pointer with 9:24 left to play to give the Bearcats a commanding 49-37 lead.
However, UCF climbed back in it when Stillwell sparked a 6-0 UCF run with back-to-back layups before Riley Kugel 's layup brought the Knights within three, 53-50, with 2:57 left.
Celestine answered seconds later with a triple from the top of the key and graduate guard Day Day Thomas made a pair of free throws to give Cincinnati an eight-point cushion with 2:16 left.
Cincinnati made three of its first four 3-point attempts to open the game with a 9-2 lead. The Bearcats extended the advantage to 19-9 on three by Tillery with 8:34 left in the half, but the Knights fought back.
UCF used a 13-2 run to take its first lead, 22-21, since the opening minute on a layup by Stillwell four minutes before the break.
Thiam’s second 3-pointer and his three-point play kept Cincinnati in front as the Bearcats took a 27-26 lead into halftime. UC’s stifling defense held UCF to just 32% shooting overall and 18% from behind the arc in the first half.