Bearcats upset No. 8 Kansas on the road, 84-68
Bearcats take down No. 8 Kansas, 84-68 to make it four in a row
The Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks for a Big 12 battle. The main topic of the week has been Kansas star freshman Darryn Peterson and would he play against the Bearcats. He ended up playing, so the Bearcats got a full strength Kansas on the road. Would the Bearcats be able to push their winning streak to four in a row?
In the first half Moustapha Thiam and Baba Miller matched Flory Bidunga and Darryn Peterson production being able to take a 36-34 lead into the half. Thiam had 11 points and five rebounds, while Miller had 12 points and three assists. Peterson had 10 points and three rebounds, while Bidunga had 12 points and five rebounds. The Bearcats won the battle of the glass 20 to 14 in the first half, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 38.5% from 3.
In the second half the Bearcats were led by Thiam and Day Day Thomas. Thiam couldn’t be stopped in the paint and on the perimeter scoring 17 of his game high 28 points (career high). Thomas scored all of his 10 points in the second half. Miller continued his all around game finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Celestine chipped in with 14 points. Bidunga finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Peterson finished with 17 points, four rebounds (also playing 32 minutes).
The Bearcats killed Kansas on the glass 40 to 29, which was great especially on the road. Shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.7% from 3 was key.
With 84-68 win, it was the worst defeat at Kansas for Bill Self and it was the Bearcats fourth win in a row. Now 15-12 and 7-7 in the Big 12.
The Bearcats continue their road swing when they travel to No. 13 Texas Tech for a 7 p.m. ET tip Tuesday in Lubbock.