Bearcats can't hold off second half surge of No. 8 Houston, 67-60
Bearcats were up 10 in the second half, but it wasn't enough down the stretch
The Cincinnati Bearcats welcomed in No. 8 Houston Cougars to Fifth Third Arena to start Big 12 play. The Bearcats come into Big 12 play 8-5, while the Cougars are 12-1.
Against Houston, the Bearcats started Day Day Thomas, Jizzle James, Buck Harris, Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam for the second time in a row.
Offense started slow as Halvine Dzellat broke the scoreless half with two free throw makes. Miller had a tough finish to give the Bearcat a 4-2 lead. Kerr Kriisa hurt his left shoulder on defense around the 13 minute mark with the game tied at 4. Emanuel Sharp picked up his second foul around the 10 minute mark. The Bearcats stayed scrappy and hit back to back 3’s from Jalen Celestine and Kriisa who returned to the game after Celestine’s big trey, pushing the lead to 8 (16-8 with 7:39 left in the first half). Joseph Tugler picked up his second foul with 7:39 left in the first half, would the Cats be able to take advantage of Houston missing two big pieces. Houston went on a 13-5 run to tie the game up at 21 with 3:50 left in the first half, after Houston took a 3 point lead, Day Day Thomas went on a 10-2 run to finish the half, to give the Cats a 33-28 lead.
Thomas finished the half with 12 points, matching Kingston Flemings 10 points. Celestine knocked down two timely 3’s in the first half for six points. The Bearcats shot 37% from the field, 45.5% from 3 and 80% from the line. Houston shot 35.5% from the field, 16.7% from 3 and 100% from the line. The Bearcats won the battle of the glass 19-16.
Foul Trouble: Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler have two fouls as well as Buck Harris for Cincinnati.
Moustapha Thiam starts the second half on a 5-0 run hitting a 3 and a nice finish in the paint from a nice pass from Miller. Up 38-28 with 18:27 left in the second half. Uzan knocked down back to back 3’s to cut the lead to 4, 40-36 with 15:54 left in the second half. Uzan knocked down another 3 to tie the game up at 42, but the next play Miller finished a nice and 1 to give the Bearcats a 45-42 lead. It’s been going back in forth timely shots on both sides the Bearcats are up 55-53 with 6:31 left in the second half. After Uzan tied it up a nice pull up jumper at 55. Flemings went on a 5-0 run that put Houston up 60-55 with 4:54 left in the second half forcing a Wes Miller timeout. Thomas was fouled on a 3 point attempt, making all three free throws, it was followed by a stop and a big dunk by Thiam to tie the game at 60. After a turnover Uzan hit another 3 to push the lead to 3, 63-60 with 2:19 left in the second half. Down 3, and the Bearcats had back to back turnovers one by Miller and James was called for a questionable charge, Houston answered with a put back Tugler dunk to push the lead up to 5. Miller got fouled and missed both free throws. With a front end of a one and one miss by Flemings, James had another turnover. Losing 67-60, to No. 8 Houston.
The Bearcats went scoreless the final 3:52 of the game and had four turnovers. Houston won the glass 34-30, after being down 3 at the half.
Houston was led by Uzan with 18 points and followed by Flemings who had 19 points and six assists.
Cincinnati was led by Miller with 11 points and eight rebounds, Thiam with 13 points and five rebounds and Thomas with 15 points and four assists.
Now 8-6 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12 they will play Tuesday on the road at West Virginia.