Cincinnati Bearcats Are Officially DEAD After Losing To Arizona State; College Basketball Highlights скачать в хорошем качестве

Cincinnati Bearcats Are Officially DEAD After Losing To Arizona State; College Basketball Highlights

Nick Niehaus, Hudson Klauke and Eric Lilly recap another brutal night of basketball for Wes Miller and the Cincinnati Bearcats. ------------------ On a Saturday night in Tempe, the Cincinnati Bearcats (10–10, 2–5 Big 12) fell to the Arizona State Sun Devils (11–9, 2–5 Big 12), 82–68, at Desert Financial Arena. The loss extended Cincinnati’s road struggles in conference play and closed out a difficult two-game swing out west with no wins to show for it. Once again, the Bearcats showed stretches of competitiveness but couldn’t sustain consistency for forty minutes against a Big 12 opponent away from home. The game opened with both teams trading punches. Cincinnati showed early offensive rhythm, moving the ball well and attacking the paint. Baba Miller set the tone, playing aggressively on both ends and giving the Bearcats a steady presence. The Bearcats briefly found success pushing tempo and generating quality looks, keeping the game tight through the first several minutes. Arizona State countered behind a stellar performance from guard Moe Odum. Odum controlled the pace of the game, creating his own shot off the dribble and knocking down contested jumpers. His shot-making from beyond the arc quickly became a problem for Cincinnati’s defense, which struggled to stay attached through screens and recover on kick-outs. The Sun Devils also capitalized on a few Cincinnati turnovers to generate transition offense, giving them small but important momentum swings. By halftime, Arizona State held a 37–33 lead. Cincinnati remained within striking distance thanks to balanced scoring and solid rebounding, but the warning signs were there. The Bearcats were already struggling from three-point range, while Arizona State was finding consistent perimeter success. Cincinnati briefly flipped momentum early in the second half. A quick run gave the Bearcats a short-lived one-point lead, sparked by Jizzle James attacking off the bounce and Baba Miller continuing his strong all-around play. However, the response from Arizona State was immediate. The Sun Devils ripped off a run of their own, fueled by Odum’s shot creation and energized interior play from Santiago Trouet. The surge forced Cincinnati into rushed possessions and tough shots late in the shot clock. As the half progressed, Arizona State’s confidence grew. A series of three-pointers stretched the lead into double digits, and Cincinnati found itself playing from behind the rest of the way. Defensive breakdowns on the perimeter allowed the Sun Devils to continue getting clean looks, while the Bearcats’ outside shooting remained cold. Each time Cincinnati threatened to close the gap, Arizona State answered with timely shot-making. Late in the game, Cincinnati continued to fight. Sencire Harris provided a brief spark with back-to-back finishes at the rim, trimming the deficit and giving the Bearcats a pulse. But Odum once again slammed the door, hitting consecutive three-pointers and calmly knocking down free throws in the closing minutes. The Sun Devils closed strong to secure the 82–68 victory. Statistically, the story was clear. Arizona State shot efficiently from the floor and caught fire from three-point range, connecting on nearly half of its attempts from deep. Cincinnati, meanwhile, struggled mightily from the perimeter, hitting just four three-pointers on seventeen attempts. The Bearcats did hold advantages on the glass and scored effectively in the paint, but the inability to generate consistent outside offense proved costly. Turnovers also played a key role. While Arizona State was reasonably careful with the ball, Cincinnati’s mistakes turned into valuable points for the Sun Devils. Several live-ball turnovers in the second half led directly to transition baskets, helping Arizona State build and maintain its cushion. Individually, Baba Miller led Cincinnati with a strong all-around performance, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Moustapha Thiam added 15 points and six rebounds, continuing to show development in the frontcourt. However, Cincinnati’s guard production outside of Miller was limited. Jizzle James and Day Day Thomas struggled to find consistent scoring rhythm, leaving the Bearcats without enough perimeter punch to match Arizona State’s firepower. The loss continued a frustrating trend for Cincinnati in Big 12 road games, where wins have been hard to come by. While the Bearcats have shown they can compete in stretches against quality opponents, sustaining execution — particularly shooting and perimeter defense — remains an ongoing challenge. Arizona State, meanwhile, earned a confidence-building victory. Odum’s standout performance highlighted the Sun Devils’ potential when their offense is clicking, especially from beyond the arc. The win keeps them alive in the crowded middle of the Big 12 standings and gives them momentum heading into the next stretch of conference play.