Bearcats MBB Gets First AAC Win, Stops SMU 76-69

Now that’s more like it!

The Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team won their first conference game of the season last evening. They headed down to Dallas and took it to a long, lithe, and athletic SMU team that had been looking like world beaters thus far this season.

Cincinnati overcame a 37-32 halftime deficit to defeat the Mustangs 75-69 on their home floor.

The win improves Cincinnati to 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the AAC.

The Bearcats were behind for most of the evening. With just 4:58 remaining in the contest, Cincinnati trailed by 8. But a burst of energy from Cincinnati, led by senior guard Keith Williams (he scored 8 of his 12 points down the stretch), helped the Bearcats revitalize their season on a Thursday night in Texas.

John Brannen’s club did a lot of things well last night. They shot better than 40 percent from outside the arc. They outrebounded SMU 39-35.

They also turned the ball over with impunity, handing it over to SMU on 15 occasions.

The Bearcats’ anchor last evening, both in the first and second half, was 6’7 sophomore Jeremiah Davenport, who posted a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds).

Cincinnati returns to action on Sunday afternoon as they head over to Wichita State for a tussle with the always tough Shockers. Check back with Down the Drive for full coverage of the contest.