Deadspin | Balanced Cincinnati tramples UCF by 20

[ad_1] Feb 8, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats heart Moustapha Thiam (52) battles for the free ball towards UCF Knights heart John Bol (7) within the first half at Fifth Third Area. Necessary Credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Photos Baba Miller scored 17 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds to steer all 5 starters in double figures as Cincinnati managed visiting UCF by a 92-72 depend in Large 12 play on Sunday.

Moustapha Thiam posted 15 factors and 7 rebounds as he returned to motion towards his earlier faculty after lacking the final two video games with an ankle damage.

Jizzle James scored 15 factors and Jalen Celestine added 14 for Cincinnati (12-12, 4-7), which pulled away with a 14-2 second-half run and reached the 90-point mark for the primary time in Large 12 play since a Feb. 5, 2025, win at UCF.

Chris Johnson and Jordan Burks every scored 16 factors to steer the Knights (17-6, 6-5), who misplaced their second straight recreation by 20-plus factors to scuff their NCAA Event resume after a three-game win streak.

Themus Fulks, UCF's main playmaker and second-leading scorer, was held scoreless and had simply two assists in 19 minutes. He performed simply 4 minutes within the second half.

As they did towards West Virginia on Thursday, the Bearcats had been in a position to assume management within the opening 20 minutes.

Cincinnati took a 21-13 lead earlier than UCF's Jamichael Stillwell (14 factors) knocked down a jumper with 5:30 left to cap a 6-0 run and forge a 26-26 tie. However Cincinnati caught fireplace and closed the half on a 14-2 run, highlighted by a pair of Celestine 3-pointers to finish the half.

The Bearcats opened the second half by scoring the primary 9 factors to take a 49-30 lead, capping a 23-2 run that seemingly gave Cincinnati management of the sport with 18:13 to play.

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins eliminated Fulks shortly thereafter and he didn't return till there was lower than eight minutes left.

In the meantime, UCF unleashed an 11-0 run that featured three straight 3-pointers -- one by Chris Johnson and two by George Beale Jr. -- to attract inside 62-56 with 9:33 left.

Thiam hit a baseline jumper to finish the UCF rally and James added a deep three from the left wing to spark a 9-0 spurt and restore Cincinnati's result in double figures at 71-56.