Late game execution letdown again, Bearcats fall to West Virginia, 62-60
Bearcats fold in crunch time on the road against West Virginia in 62-60 loss
The Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia to face Big 12 foe the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Bearcats game into the game 8-6 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12 with a close loss to No. 8 Houston. Guard Kerr Kriisa was out for the game, but after missing four games forward/center Tyler McKinley made his return to action.
In the first half for West Virginia it was the Honor Huff show as he had 16 points on 5-of-9 from the field and three rebounds. Huff knocked down four 3's and West Virginia was up as much as 11 points in half. Tyler McKinley gave some great minutes off the bench scoring four points. Jalen Celestine played solid in the first half scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds. Overall, the Bearcats didn't shooting great, 34.4% from the field, 20% from 3 and 42.9% from the line. They lost the battle on the glass, 18-17, but won the turnover battle 4-9. West Virginia shot 50% from the field, 54.5% from 3 and 42.9% from the line. The Bearcats were down 31-28 at the half.
In the second half the Bearcats went on a 11-0 run to take a 5 point lead behind 3's knocked down by Celestine and James, capped by a Moustapha Thiam dunk. Up 57-52, the Bearcats went cold and didn't execute only scoring 3 points the final 4:46 leading to a West Virginia 62-60 win. Treysen Eaglestaff and Huff made big shots to take away that 5 point lead. The Bearcats settled for countless jump-shots without touching the paint and it doomed them again.
The Bearcats lost the battle on the glass again, 37-33. Huff led all scorers with 24 points and a game high eight rebounds.
Celestine was the Bearcats leading scorer with 15 and the only person to hit double digits.
From the starting big men Baba Miller and Thiam, they only got eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.
Day Day Thomas and James went a combined 6-of-23 from the field (5-of-16 from 3) and no shots from the line, nine assists, three turnovers and five steals.
Now 8-7 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12, the Bearcats will travel to Orlando, Florida to face No. 25 UCF on Sunday at 5 p.m.