Bearcats ignite for a season-best offensive performance, overwhelming UCF with a dominant second-half surge and a flurry of critical scoring runs.
Guard Themus Fulks slammed the ball in frustration after committing a foul, while the Fifth Third Arena crowd roared in the background as their Cincinnati Bearcats (12-12, 4-7 Big 12) blew out the UCF Knights (17-6, 6-5 Big 12) 92-72.
Sunday's matchup was the second time both teams met this season. UCF was victorious in the first meeting, winning 73-72. Now, Cincinnati ties the season series and adds its 19th victory in the series' history.
The Bearcats began the game scoring five unanswered points and forcing Fulks — one of the nation's top playmakers — to turn the ball over. Guard Riley Kugel kick-started the offense for UCF with four straight points.
Both teams traded buckets, each countering the other with mini scoring runs. Kugel made a fast break layup and a floater to cut into the Bearcats' lead, 24-26.
Forward Jamichael Stillwell, operating in the pick-and-roll with Fulks, knocked down a mid-range jump shot assisted by his point guard. Tied 26-26 with 5 minutes and 30 seconds left in the half, Cincinnati responded with a 14-2 run heading into the break.
Guard Sencire Harris started the run by making a contested three in the left corner, followed by a dunk by center Moustapha Thiam. Guard Keyshaun Tillery converted an and-1 layup, marking the Bearcats' 8-0 run before center John Bol stopped the bleeding with a layup.
Guard Jalen Celestine nailed two three-pointers to cap off the 14-2 run leading into halftime and extending his team's lead to 12. Cincinnati led 40-28 over UCF.
The Bearcats shot 52% from the field and 50% from three in the first half, a far cry from their usual 41.7% from the field and 30.4% from three, which ranks last in the Big 12.
Cincinnati's defense forced UCF to struggle offensively, as the Knights shot 34% from the field and 20% from three.
The trend would continue in the second half with UCF racking up quick fouls, reaching the bonus and sending their opponents to the free-throw line, where they converted 15 of their 21 free throws.
Cincinnati would take its second-largest lead of the game, up by 21 points. Coach Johnny Dawkins sought to change up his tactics and sat Fulks for the majority of the second half.
He went with guard Chris Johnson in his stead, alongside transitioning into a zone defense to give his opponent a different defensive look. UCF also pressed the Bearcats as they brought the ball up the court, which proved successful, as they strung together multiple stops.
As the Knights got stops, their offense started to heat up. Forward Jordan Burks converted an and-1, followed by forward Devan Cambridge knocking down a three to cut the deficit to 14.
Dawkins inserted guard George Beale Jr., who averages under eight minutes per contest, and he changed the course of the game temporarily.
Beale Jr. hit back-to-back threes to make it a six-point game with under 10 minutes to go. However, Cincinnati responded with a 9-0 run to close the comeback door on UCF and push its lead up to 22 points, its new largest lead of the game.
The Knights suffer their first Quad 2 loss of the season and have six days of rest until their next home game against West Virginia. UCF plays the Mountaineers next Saturday on FS1 at 6 p.m.