Cincinnati Three Man Weave: Bearcats Lose 67-62 to No. 5 Houston

Cincinnati is 15-8 on the season following the loss.

J'Wan Roberts (20 points, and eight rebounds) willed the Cougars to victory this afternoon in Houston's 67-62 win over the Bearcats. The veteran forward continues his prolific play against the Bearcats. He was the Cougars most efficient player this afternoon, after shooting nearly 66% from the field. 

Roberts entered this contest averaging just seven points and eight rebounds. However, this afternoon he looked like the best player on the court with his abilities to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Cincinnati had no answer for the talented forward on the offensive glass which resulted in multiple easy putbacks that were the difference maker here at Fifth Third Arena this afternoon. 

Houston Physicality Continues to Bully Cincinnati

The Cougars physicality was just too much for the Bearcats this afternoon as Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars continues to have the Bearcats number. 

The Bearcats simply had no answer for the Cougars physicality. Houston outrebounded Cincinnati 10-1 to start the game. That set the tone early at Fifth Third Arena.

The Bearcats were outrebounded 41-34, which marks the third time all season Wes Miller and company have been beaten on the glass. The Bearcats have been praised for their rebounding efforts all season, but Houston stayed true to their identity and that was their physicality, and it was on full display this afternoon in the Cougars victory. 

Bearcats Tough and Nasty Defense

The Bearcats defense flourished over the final five minutes of the first half, as they quickly turned up the heat and the Cougars offense went ice cold as they shot just 1-13 during that span. Cincinnati, on the other hand, was able to turn stops into points as they outscored the Cougars 15-2 in the final five minutes, and it all came after Jamille Reynolds took the roof off of Fifth Third Arena with a ferocious putback slam through contact off of a Dan Skillings miss. 

Cincinnati took a 32-29 lead into halftime following the 15-2 run. 

The Bearcats defense came alive again down the final stretch of the game, forcing three consecutive stops. Cincinnati pulled within 61-59, but couldn't get any closer.

The Bearcats defense is what simply kept them in this game, especially after being down as much as 15 in the first half. The game quickly changed once Cincinnati's defense started playing to their strengths, and that was their physicality, something opposing coaches have praised all season. 

The Bearcats back court did a tremendous job clamping up Jamal Shead and LJ Cryer due to their physicality and relentless efforts. The veteran duo finished with 24 points on 8-for-32 shooting. 

Cincinnati Battle Tested Early

The Cougars jumped out to an early 17-4 lead. The Bearcats simply had no answer for Houston on the glass. They gave up six early offensive rebounds that made a huge difference in the game. 

The Cougars were in full attack mode and the Bearcats would find themselves in danger zone very quickly. 

Houston had success in the paint, even though Cincinnati was able to contain Shead and Cryer. That duo made it easy for guys like Roberts and Emmanual Sharp to get around the rim early. 

That all changed after Wes Miller picked up a technical foul early in the first half to set the tone from there on out. From that point on, the energy of this game changed as the Bearcats quickly flipped the script on the Cougars, erasing an early 15-point deficit.

Despite their efforts, Cincinnati fell to 15-8 on the season and 4-6 in BIG 12 play. For more on the loss, go here. 

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