Cincinnati will attempt to take its next step up the league rankings when it hosts sputtering Baylor on Tuesday in a Big 12 clash.
It’s the first time the teams have played in the Queen City since December 1946. Baylor holds a 4-0 series edge after sweeping two games from the Bearcats last season — winning in Waco as well as the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City — along with a 68-46 home win on Jan. 7.
The Bearcats (16-11, 6-10 Big 12) have turned the corner in recent weeks, winning four of their last six games, including Saturday’s 75-63 home victory over TCU. Cincinnati scored the game’s first 13 points and led throughout as Jizzle James paced four Bearcats in double figures with 18 points.
“The way we started both halves was the key for us,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller said. “That was the most active we were defensively and the sharpest we were offensively. A win in the Big 12 in February, finding a way, figuring out how to do it, is what matters most.”
Day Day Thomas and Josh Reed had 13 points apiece and Dillon Mitchell added 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for Cincinnati, which has won three straight home contests.
Mitchell said he thought Saturday’s game was won in practice Friday when the team was challenged by Miller to be better on the boards.
“We’ve been struggling with it recently, and I kind of took it personal and tried to do my best,” Mitchell said. “All I was focusing on was trying to win the rebound war. I know if we can handle that, everything else will fall in place for us.”
The Bears (16-11, 8-8) have lost two straight and three of their past four games to fall into a tie for seventh place in the league. Baylor’s most recent setback was a 76-74 decision Saturday at Colorado that wasted an 18-point, 13-rebound performance by Norchad Omier, his sixth double-double in the last seven games.
Langston Love added 17 points, 10 of them over the final four minutes, in the loss. Jeremy Roach and Jalen Celestine each hit for 11 but Baylor got just eight points from freshman phenom VJ Edgecombe, who hit 2 of 9 shots.
“Our defense didn’t turn Colorado over enough and we missed too many layups, too many shots,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “Our effort and attention to detail defensively needed to be a lot better (in the) second half.”
The Bears were without guard Jayden Nunn, who missed the game with an illness. Baylor is 1-3 since losing center Josh Ojianwuna to a season-ending knee injury.
–Field Level Media
