Cincinnati Bearcats Defeat Houston 73-62

Feb 15, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats forward Justin Jackson (5) is congratulated by guard Ge

Nearly a week off allowed the exhausted Cincinnati Bearcats to rest up and prepare for a tough stretch. That stretch started with the Houston Cougars, and if you thought that week off would get rid of the cardiac cats, you were mistaken. With a tight game up until the waning minutes the Bearcats pulled out a 73-62 victory for their 17th straight home win.

A week away showed as the Bearcats opened up the game, slowly meaning only 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the game. Cincinnati trailed or led by 1 for nearly the first half of the game. Houston came ready to play, having only lost by 1 in their first meeting this season the Cougars were confident and it showed. Houston led by four points late in the second, scaring many Bearcats fans.

Cincinnati’s slow offensive play in the first half comes as no surprise to anyone that has watched this team. A one or two point lead or deficit going into the half is the norm for the Bearcats. In the second half though Cincinnati always manages to turn the game around.

The second half started off well for the Bearcats three quick baskets gave the Bearcats the lead and they would ride that momentum to victory. Cincinnati opened up the lead in the last four minutes. Senior Sean Kilpatrick once again put the team on his back in the second half, between rebounding and scoring Kilpatrick is the heart of the Bearcats. Kilpatrick’s 17 second half points were the reason the Bearcats won.

Fan favorite Justin Jackson ran into foul trouble in the second half. With 4 fouls Head Coach Mick Cronin left Jackson in the game, the next play Jackson threw down a mean dunk that erupted the crowd propelled the Bearcats into another win as the Bearcats won 73-62.

Kilpatrick led the team in scoring once again with 28 points and assists with 6. Justin Jackson continued to be a great contributor with 13 points and 2 blocks that always excited the crown. One thing Cincinnati needs is more help off the bench, Jermaine Sanders and Troy Caupain have been great contributors but a little more would be nice.

Coach Cronin is one person that enjoyed today’s game “I thought this was a great experience for us today, the way we had to execute to win this game in the second half” said Cronin. While it may have been a great experience for the team it is excruciating for the fans. Cincinnati has a trend, play close, and rough it out at the end behind Jackson and Kilpatrick. Its worked so far, why change?

Cincinnati returns to the court Wednesday (Feb. 17th) against UCF in Orlando at 7pm ET on ESPNU.