The Cincinnati Bearcats and 15th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders didn't get as much attention as the national spotlight shined elsewhere, but that didn't stop both teams from entering Saturday as the most competitive in the country. It did not prevent him from showing off one of his matches.
The Bearcats won 75-72 in Lubbock, Texas, in a contest that didn't lead by more than five points in the final 31 1/2 minutes, their second road win against a ranked opponent in the Big 12 Conference this season. listed.
Simas Lukosius eludes the defense and hits a mid-range jump shot with 21 seconds left for the game-winning goal, and John Newman III impresses with a fast-break slam dunk after Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs misses shortstop. Added a sign. Bank shot with 9 seconds left.
Isaacs gave Texas Tech (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) a 72-71 lead with 35 seconds left. He hit a desperate 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and sink it, the last of his 22 points. .
The flurry of action at the end symbolized the second half, where neither team was able to make much of a difference in defense.
Cincinnati (15-7, 4-5) went on a 6-1 run to take a 55-50 lead, limiting the Red Raiders' outside shooting and ultimately using their size advantage to get off the backboard. Gained an advantage through control. .
Texas Tech, which lost at home for the first time this season, struggled to make 3-point shots, missing 7 of 8 from beyond the arc in the second half. Isaacs' last shot came on a day when he struggled (5-of-19 from the floor) and was visibly frustrated at times.
With their star players neutralized for much of the game, the Red Raiders relied on backup big man Robert Jennings, who finished with a season-best 14 points and six rebounds.
However, the Bearcats were more balanced and that was their strength.
Lukosius led the way with 16 points and made four 3-pointers, Dan Skillings Jr. had 14 points, Newman had 11 points, Aziz Bandaoga had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Cincinnati posted 39 points. He won with 35.
The Red Raiders fought back from an early 13-4 deficit to lead 37-36 at halftime. At the 11:20 mark of the first half, Kerwin Walton made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 15-15, and the teams traded leads 14 times before the game was tied at eight, when the gap began.
