Cincinnati Bearcats basketball gets pre-Thanksgiving win over Georgia Tech
Blessed with added rim protection Wednesday night, the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team caught fire late in the first half and were fully ignited in the second, blasting Georgia Tech, 89-54 at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats are now at 5-0 and showed off their many weapons Wednesday, including recently eligible 7-footer Aziz Bandaogo. In the 21 minutes he played, Bandaogo nearly had a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
"I was ready," Bandaogo said. "I've been working on this every time at practice. I was just waiting for the right time to show what I can really do. This is my job. I was really happy to know I helped my teammates."
Said UC coach Wes Miller, "I wanted to make sure we made it about Cincinnati basketball too. I thought our team and him handled it beautifully. Our fans, our support was awesome. It meant a lot to our program. It meant a lot to him."
Leading the scoring was Viktor Lakhin with 15 points, going 5-for-6 from three-point range. John Newman III had 12 and C.J. Fredrick had 11, all in the second half.
Seven Bearcats made three-point shots on the night. UC was 14-for-35 overall on pops from the perimeter and finished shooting 47% from the field to Georgia Tech's 35%. They outrebounded the Yellowjackets 34-32.
Georgia Tech drops to 2-2. It was UC's biggest margin of victory since defeating Temple 84-54 in the AAC tournament last March 10. Kowacie Reeves led Georgia Tech with 14 points.
Reasons why UC was hotter than Georgia asphalt
Bandaogo bandwagon big
While Bandaogo didn't start, his impact was felt within minutes.
The Senegal native recently cleared by the NCAA as a two-time transfer via a mental health waiver claim, entered the game at the 17:14 mark of the first half to a loud ovation. He finished the half with five points, five rebounds, a block and several shot changes.
Lakhin, a 6-11 post-player, used the new freedom created by Bandaogo to knock down long balls with ease.
"I'll be more open on the perimeter," Lakhin said. "It's just a matter of chemistry between us. It's funny, I didn't take a two-point shot or a free throw. I have to figure out how to be a presence in the paint and put pressure in there with Aziz."
Simas Lukošius was also extremely effective in the first half, making all three of his field goals and both free throws for eight points. For the second straight game, Lukosiuš was an assist leader with four, tying Day Day Thomas.
UC starts 2nd half smoking-hot
UC quickly added a 7-0 run to start the second half on baskets by Newman III, a dunk by Ody Oguama and a three-pointer from Thomas. By the second media timeout with 15:10 remaining, Fredrick's three-ball put the Bearcats in front by 23 at 58-35.
The smoke would keep coming as Lakhin's fifth three-pointer in a row landed, then Fredrick connected on two more from the arc. Sunday's top scorer Dan Skillings Jr. didn't even get in the scorebook until there were under 13 minutes remaining as UC's lead surpassed 30.
"It was electrical," Lakhin said of the reaction of the 11,756 in attendance.
The lead would reach as many as 41 points in the second half before winding up at 35.
Balanced Bearcats
While only Lakhin, Newman III and Fredrick hit in double figures, Thomas had nine, with Bandaogo, Lukosiuš and Jizzle James with eight points each.
"I thought that was Jizzle's best game as a Bearcat," Miller said. "He settled us down. He made some nice plays and ball screens. He was solid defensively. He did a nice job."
Reynolds still in the on-deck circle
UC is still waiting for an answer on 6-11 transfer Jamille Reynolds, a two-time transfer with a similar waiver claim.
"I'm grateful to be back," Bandaogo said. "We've got one guy that we're fighting for. I was really happy but I know what it feels like. I was telling him, 'It's going to come! Keep working!' "
Miller, who Sunday said he was losing sleep over having both big men out, was ecstatic to have Bandaogo but still will lobby for Reynolds who can only make this team better.
"If we're going to use the analogy of sleeping good, I'm not sleeping good yet," Miller said. "We've still got Jamille Reynolds. My heart still breaks for Jamille Reynolds and we're not going to forget about that. We're not going anywhere. We're fighting for him."
Big 12 vs. ACC
UC is now 8-0 in recent games vs. ACC opponents. They last won against Georgia Tech in the 1996 Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena as the Danny Fortson Bearcats defeated the Stephon Marbury Yellowjackets in Lexington.
"It's really important, these games against top-tier teams because that's what every night in the Big 12 is on the road in hostile environments," Miller said.
Finally a road game
UC's next contest is Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Howard University in Washington D.C. Howard just lost to Georgia Tech 88-85. The game is at 7 p.m. Other than the Heritage Bank Center game with Dayton on Dec. 16, UC will have another road game involving travel until their Big 12 debut at BYU Jan. 6.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats spend Thanksgiving as a 5-0 team after Georgia Tech win
