Big 12 Tournament: Bearcats handle Utah, 73-66

The Big 12 Tournament started today in Kansas City, Missouri at the T-Mobile Center. The Cincinnati Bearcats were tasked with playing the Utah Utes in the First Round. The Bearcats had their full arsenal of players. Would they be able to move forward?

In the first half it started rough as Utah jumped out to a 15-6 lead, as the Bearcats didn't seem as sharp. The good guys answered with a 7-0 run behind Moustapha Thiam and Baba Miller to get the Bearcats within striking distance. They followed it up with a 15-2 run to finish the half. After struggling early Wes Miller's crew was able to flip a switch. Jizzle James and Jalen Celestine, both had two fouls in the first half, but quality minutes from Tyler McKinley, Keyshaun Tillery and Shon Abaev were key for the Bearcats to take a 29-20 lead into the half.

The Bearcats got the lead up to as much as 15 points, but Terrence Brown answered the bell scoring 15 of his game high 22 points in the second half, he also had five of his six assists in the second half. Celestine led the way with 11 of his team high 19 points in the second half, he eclipsed 1,000 points during the game as well and had his Bearcat season high. Thiam got rolling with nine of his 14 points in the second half, finishing with a double double 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Miller played as his pace putting up a stat line of 11 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and a block. Tillery came off the bench with eight points and two assists, while fellow freshman Abaev had three points, six rebounds and two blocks.

The Bearcats shot 45% from the field, 39% from 3 and won the battle of the glass 40 to 37.

With the 73-66 win they will fave No. 8 (seed) UCF on Wednesday at 3 pm ET on ESPNU.

Now 18-14, the Bearcats need to keep winning to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.