UC Basketball fumbles comeback against Arizona in Big 12 home opener

On By Littum

game

In what may have been mathematically the biggest game yet for University of Cincinnati men’s basketball, the Bearcats chose the wrong day to be statistically inaccurate, losing to Arizona 72-67.

It wasn’t without a fight as the Bearcats, on the verge of being blown out in front of a crowd of 11,212 at Fifth Third Arena, tied the game in the final minute. From there, they could only get a Day Day Thomas 3-pointer in the final seconds. UC had its worst shooting day of the year from the perimeter, hitting just 5-of-25 for a paltry 20%.

“We did a good job of digging back into the game,” UC coach Wes Miller said. “I was proud of that part. I wasn’t happy with the execution of the offense and the defense in the last minute, but you have to give them (Arizona) credit for making the play.”

Down by as many as 19 points in the second half, UC energized the crowd with a 9-0 run with just under nine minutes remaining, cutting the Arizona lead to 58-52 and forcing a timeout with 7:19 remaining.

With just over three minutes left, Jizzle James cut the Wildcats lead to three at 64-61. A free throw by Aziz Bandaogo at 1:51 made it 64-62. Then Dan Skillings tied it with a putback with 59 seconds left. From there, it came down to Arizona’s free throws to pull away, as the Wildcats finished 21-for-27 in that category for the five-point victory.

UC was woeful, 12-for-23 for just 52% from the line. For the game, they were outshot 43-39%. The Bearcats outshot the Wildcats 39-34.

Arizona was led by Jaden Bradley with 15 points, while Carter Bryant added 14. Bradley drove to the basket for a layup 15 seconds after UC tied the game to give Arizona the lead for good.

“We drew something out of the timeout that we had never really done before,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “That allowed Jaden Bradley to come downhill to make a layup. The play wasn’t necessarily for it, but it was one of the opportunities. We were able to, possession by possession, find a way from there.”

UC got 18 for the second straight game from Skillings. Dillon Mitchell had 13 points.

“We all knew we had to turn that switch on and have it on in the second half,” Mitchell said of the failed comeback. “It starts on the defensive end. Offensively, even if we don’t make shots, eventually we will. That’s something we have to continue to lock on to.”

Although UC led the Associated Press no. 16 into the game, Arizona was ranked higher in the KenPom.com ratings (No. 20 to UC’s No. 23) and NCAA NET rankings (No. 21 to UC’s No. 25).

Arizona has won all five games in the series, but this was the Wildcats’ first visit to Cincinnati. The other matchups were played at neutral sites with two in Phoenix and two in Hawaii.

What’s up with the Bearcats vs. Wildcats?

Villanova, Kansas State, Arizona. That’s UC’s loss. Although the Bearcats came back and tied, they are now 11-28 under Wes Miller as they trailed at halftime, 1-3 this season. UC is now 10-2 (0-2 Big 12). The Arizona Wildcats go to 8-5 (2-0 Big 12).

The Bearcats outscored Arizona 41-33 in the second half as Miller favored the ball movement.

“We played the right way in the second half offensively, then we missed a lot of open shots and free throws,” he said. “It has to be consistent, and you didn’t see that at all in the second half.”

An assist from Xavier

With Xavier coach Sean Miller previously at the helm of the Arizona Wildcats, coach Tommy Lloyd’s team took advantage of his hospitality by training at the Cintas Center. There are still more connections between the two teams. Among them is current Arizona Assistant AD/Equipment Operations Brian Brigger, who facilitated the practice. Brigger is from nearby Wyoming and graduated from Xavier, where he worked with Skip Prosser and Thad Matta, then Sean Miller in Arizona.

Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats basketball vs. Arizona

1. Was UC able to contain Arizona Wildcats star Caleb Love?

Love didn’t score for nearly the first 14 minutes of the first half. When he did, his 3-pointer gave Arizona a 21-19 lead, and the Wildcats ended the half on an 18-7 run from there with Love leading Arizona with nine points. Love would score just three more points to finish with 12, but Carter Bryant, who entered the game averaging 4.5 points, had 14 for Arizona to match Love.

Bryant made all five of his shots including a trio of threes.

“It was just one we had to get,” Bryant said of the play. “We battled with it, we stuck with it, we trusted the game plan, we executed everything not necessarily to a tee, but as good as you can ask for in an environment against a great defensive team like this.”

2. Was pace of play a factor?

Both teams like to get up and down, and the Wildcats came in having surpassed the century mark five times. In four of their losses, they were held under 80 points with former Bearcats coach Mick Cronin’s UCLA Bruins holding them to a season-low 54. For most of the first half, it looked like UC would be able to to keep the Wildcats at bay. But while Arizona caught fire, UC couldn’t buy a bucket and didn’t score in the final 2:40 of the first half. Their 13-point halftime deficit was the biggest of the season. On the final free throws, Arizona’s 72 points were the most scored against UC this season.

“I was unhappy with the defense in the first half, I thought we were relaxed to start the game and slow to the basketball,” Miller said. “I was very pleased that defensively we dug back into the game. You can’t keep mocking people and digging yourself into holes. We did that tonight in the first half.”

3. Missed free throws, threes haunt the Cincinnati Bearcats

Several times in the game, the Bearcats hit both free throws. Those were momentum killers. They finished 12-for-23. Dillon Mitchell missed all five attempts and Aziz Bandaogo was 1-for-4. UC has only surpassed 70% from the line in four games: Morehead State, Xavier, Dayton and Grambling State.

“I believe in our guys,” Miller said. “Guys the ball goes in some, it doesn’t go in some. I don’t worry too much about the things we can’t control. Guys, they’re going to step up and make free throws. It’s a long season for them to make them. “

In terms of three-point shooting, Saturday’s 20% was their lowest output since just 25% vs. Xavier. In four of their last five games, the Bearcats have shot less than 30% from behind the arc. Among UC’s shooters were Skillings Jr. 2-for-7, but Simas Lukošius, Day Day Thomas and Tyler Betsey combined for 2-for-13.

New Cincinnati Bearcats signed Keyshuan Tillery on stage

Four-star point guard Keyshuan Tillery of New Hampton School in New Hampshire flew the Bearcat colors at the UC/Arizona game. Tillery committed in September and signed with Wes Miller and company in November. Tillery was introduced during one of the timeouts in the first half.

Next on the Big 12 menu?

UC heads to Waco, Texas for a meeting with the Baylor Bears on Tuesday night at 8pm Eastern on ESPN+. Baylor, ranked No. 25, lost by 19 in no. 3 at Iowa State on Saturday, 74-55, so they’ll be hungry for a win. Arizona heads to Morgantown for West Virginia on Tuesday night. The Mountaineers won at home over Oklahoma State on Saturday 69-50.

Cincinnati Bearcats football notes

UC guard Luke Kandra of Elder High School got one Hula Bowl invite Saturday. The game is next Saturday, Jan. 11 at UCF’s FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando. Friday UC running back and Roger Bacon product Corey Kiner was invited to the NFL Combine 27 February-2 March at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.