Feb 8, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats middle Moustapha Thiam (52) battles for the free ball in opposition to UCF Knights middle John Bol (7) within the first half of at 5th 3rd Area. Obligatory Credit score: Aaron Doster-Imagn Pictures Baba Miller scored 17 issues and grabbed 10 rebounds to guide all 5 starters in double figures as Cincinnati managed visiting UCF via a 92-72 depend in Giant 12 play on Sunday.
Moustapha Thiam posted 15 issues and 7 rebounds as he returned to motion in opposition to his earlier college after lacking the final two video games with an ankle harm.
Jizzle James scored 15 issues 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 Giant 12 play since a Feb. 5, 2025, win at UCF.
Chris Johnson and Jordan Burks every scored 16 issues to guide the Knights (17-6, 6-5), who misplaced their moment immediately sport via 20-plus issues to scuff their NCAA Event resume after a three-game win streak.
Themus Fulks, UCF’s main playmaker and second-leading scorer, used to be held scoreless and had simply two assists in 19 mins. He performed simply 4 mins in the second one half of.
As they did in opposition to West Virginia on Thursday, the Bearcats had been ready to suppose keep watch over within the opening 20 mins.
Cincinnati took a 21-13 lead ahead of UCF’s Jamichael Stillwell (14 issues) knocked down a jumper with 5:30 left to cap a 6-0 run and forge a 26-26 tie. However Cincinnati stuck fireplace and closed the half of on a 14-2 run, highlighted via a couple of Celestine 3-pointers to finish the half of.
The Bearcats opened the second one half of via scoring the primary 9 issues to take a 49-30 lead, capping a 23-2 run that apparently gave Cincinnati keep watch over of the sport with 18:13 to play.
UCF trainer Johnny Dawkins got rid of Fulks in a while thereafter and he didn’t go back till there used to be not up to 8 mins left.
In the meantime, UCF unleashed an 11-0 run that featured 3 immediately 3-pointers — one via Chris Johnson and two via 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 3 from the left wing to spark a 9-0 spurt and repair Cincinnati’s result in double figures at 71-56.
After a Stillwell jumper, Cincinnati scored seven immediately issues to push the lead again to 78-58 with six mins final.
–Box Degree Media
