Cincinnati Bearcat basketball wins their Sunday matinee with Florida Gulf Coast

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team has extended its perfect record into December, taking down Florida Gulf Coast, 99-62, Sunday at Fifth Third Arena.

The Bearcats had a shot at hitting the century mark in the final minute but were held up by Coach Wes Miller in the final seconds. Many of the 9,812 had already made a beeline to the parking garages at that point.

UC basketball When Jizzle sizzles so does Cincinnati Bearcat basketball

The 7-0 Bearcats were led by Viktor Lakhin who just missed a double-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six assists. C.J. Fredrick was 5-for-6 from the three-point line and also finished with 19, his career-best at UC.

Afterward the jovial Lakhin feigned disappointment over being pulled and denied the double or triple-double.

"They didn't pressure me as much and that's what created those opportunities," the redshirt junior said of his efforts.

Ody Oguama had a season-high 13 points off the bench and buried just his second career 3-pointer as a Bearcat. In the strange but true department, Dan Skillings Jr. had just three points but tore up the boards with 12 rebounds. Aziz Bandaogo had 10 points with two blocks but amazingly only one rebound.

"I thought Aziz, Ody and Vik up front were pretty dang good tonight," Miller said. "We were able to utilize our size in a positive way which is going to be important when you're trying to play big."

The game served as an opening week appetizer for a soon-to-be Skyline Chili-infused week of Crosstown Shootout fodder. Xavier, at 4-4, will have a Tuesday tune-up at home against Delaware.

How the Bearcats foiled Florida Gulf Coast:

11 3s on 12/3

After making just 3-of-18 from behind the arc Tuesday night in Washington D.C. against Howard, the Bearcats were 11-of-19 Sunday.

Fredrick hit all four of his treys in the first half and finished 5-for-6. C.J. Anthony added a pair off the bench and Day Day Thomas was 1-for-2. Lakhin, John Newman III and Oguama were all perimeter-perfect on the day.

"I was shocked he shot it!" Fredrick said of Oguama's trifecta. "It looked good!"

Season-high for Fredrick

Fredrick was 6-for-7 from the field vs. Florida Gulf Coast for a season-best 19 points. His high at Kentucky was 20 last season vs. Howard and his career-high is 23 for Iowa vs. Minnesota in his redshirt sophomore season.

"Credit to my teammates who were finding me," Fredrick said. "I definitely was in a good little rhythm early on."

No. 5's five treys came after Miller challenged Fredrick in practice.

"It is important for our team that he's aggressive," Miller said. "Our team needs him to be aggressive and I thought he was good tonight."

No Simas

Simas Lukosiuš, who was struck by a vehicle at Corry and Jefferson streets last Wednesday, did not play in the game as a precaution.

"He was pretty dang shook," Miller said of the incident. "The windshield was broken on the car. It's not serious, but he's hurting. I don't think he's out for any significant amount of time, or if it's a day-to-day thing or week-to-week thing."

Dan is still dangerous

Though sophomore Skillings Jr. had a season-low three points, he contributed a season-high 12 rebounds in less than 21 minutes.

"I didn't think it was his best game," Miller said. "He had a couple careless turnovers and passed up shots he should have taken. It wasn't his night but you look down and he's got 12 rebounds, that's pretty neat to find ways to impact when it's not going your way."

Aziz trying to assimilate

Bandaogo won Sunday's tip with ease, sending it to Thomas who then delivered it back via air mail to Bandaogo for the dunk five seconds into the game. The 7-footer finished the game as one of four Bearcats in double figures with 10 points but oddly had just one rebound. He did lead the team in blocks with two, coming in the same possession.

As is often the case, many of Bandaogo's buckets were dunks or lobs. One even came from 6-11 teammate Lakhin.

"I'm like, 'Bro you're like so long, always be ready!' " Lakhin said. "I don't even have to throw a good pass. He just slams everything."

Said Miller, "As much as we're trying, and we're still doing this with Jamille (Reynolds), to make sure that they're ready for games, you can only do so much to get somebody ready when they can't play. It's going to take some time to get him (Bandaogo) where we need him to get. Let's look at where he is in the middle of January and we'll have it figured it out by then."

Next ?

The 93rd annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout between UC and Xavier takes place at Cintas Center next Saturday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Xavier's won the last four and UC has not prevailed since Dec. 8, 2018, when Jarron Cumberland scored 19 points in a 62-47 victory at Fifth Third Arena.

UC hasn't won at Cintas Center since Dec. 14, 2001, when the Bearcats defeated the Muskies 75-55. Most of next Saturday's combatants weren't yet born.

"I remember watching this game when I was a little kid," Fredrick said. "It used to be one of the best days just to come home, my dad would bring home Skyline and we'd watch the game. We have a lot of days to prepare."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A pre-Shootout win for Cincinnati Bearcats basketball over FGCU