What we learned from Cincinnati Bearcats loss vs. No. 5 Houston in Big 12 basketball

Say what you want, but Las Vegas is in business for a reason.

Coming into Saturday's late afternoon affair with No. 5 Houston, the Cincinnati Bearcats were the only Big 12 team not favored on their home floor.

Though UC made two double-digit comebacks, the Cougars proved worthy of their ranking, holding off the Bearcats 67-62. UC beat the morning 5.5-point spread but not Kelvin Sampson's team.

"We had a real opportunity there against a top-five team," UC coach Wes Miller said. "The environment was as good as you can have in college basketball. I'm sorry we couldn't get over the hump a couple more possessions tonight."

Attendance, was 12, 715, the largest home crowd since the renovation of the arena.

Redshirt senior J'Wan Roberts led the Cougars with 20 points, while the Bearcats were led by Dan Skillings Jr. with 13 points. John Newman III had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds and Jizzle James added 10 points.

UC got as close as 61-59 with 1:41 to go in the game on two free throws by Jamille Reynolds. Houston was able to close out from there to go to 21-3 (8-3 Big 12). UC drops to 15-8 (4-6 Big 12).

It's been over four years and now 10 games since UC defeated Houston, dating back to their American Athletic Conference days.

5 takeaways from UC's missed chance

1. Gored on boards

Houston outrebounded the taller Bearcats 41-34, which included 17 on the offensive glass. The most glaring stat came in the game's opening minutes when the Cougars yanked down eight rebounds before Jamille Reynolds snared UC's first nearly five minutes into the game. At the under-12 timeout of the first half, Houston's glass advantage was 11-1.

The Bearcats had only been out-rebounded twice before this season (vs. TCU Jan, 16 and Oklahoma Jan. 20).

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson credited the early surge to his main guys not yet being in foul trouble.

Sampson's style has been influenced by Cincinnati over the years. He admitted playing against Bob Huggins teams in his Oklahoma days when Kenyon Martin and company dominated the glass for opening his eyes.

"Anytime you play Cincinnati it's always going to be a tough, physical game," Sampson said. "We don't mind that either."

Miller discussed the enormous early rebounding deficit with the players afterward.

"11 to 1 to start the game on the board, that's a problem," Miller said. "I don't have any great answer for that other than that's a problem and unacceptable."

2. UC short on 2nd comeback

Down 19-6 with just under 13 minutes to play in the opening period, UC outscored Houston 26-10, including a 15-2 run before the half to lead at the break 32-29. It was just their second halftime lead of the Big 12 portion of the season.

The Bearcats had a 6-0 run to go up 38-31 on Houston less than three minutes into the second half.

But Houston rallied and Emanuel Sharp's lay-in put the Cougars in front 42-40 and they never trailed again.

Houston's defense is like trying to swing the ball against a giant octopus. In the middle of the half, UC went six minutes without a score. They got within two late but would fall by five. UC now has six Big 12 losses by a total of 22 points.

"Every night's going to be a big game for us," Day Day Thomas said. "We've got to keep doing what we do in Cincinnati basketball: rebound the ball and play in transition."

3. UC fails to capitalize

Houston had several players in foul trouble but none left the game. L.J. Cryer and Ja'Vier Francis survived with four fouls each. UC was able to get to the free throw line 25 times to Houston's 14 but the Bearcats left seven points at the stripe, unlike last Saturday when they were a perfect 10-for-10 at the line.

4. Another off-game for Lakhin

Up until last week, Viktor Lakhin was UC's top scorer. Whether it be the lingering effects of his illness that caused him to miss the UCF game or not, he was held scoreless for the second time in the past three games. In 12:49 of playing time, he missed all four shots, three of them on 3-pointers. His last made trey was in the home win vs. TCU. Since then, he is 0-for-11 from behind the arc.

UC started the second half with Skillings on the floor in place of Lakhin.

"He had a really good week of practice," Miller said of Lakhin. "He had the right attitude and approach. As a coach, that frustrates you because you want him to get that reward. The only answer is to continue to approach it like he has the last seven days. If he does that, we all know what Viktor's capable of. He's really important to this team."

5. Houston's depth shows

J'Wan Roberts came into the game averaging 8.6 points but walked off the floor matching his season-high with 20. UC held Cougars top scorer Cryer to eight, seven below his average. Senior Jamal Shead averages 12.5 and hit for 16, but not without going just 6-for-25 from the field.

"We need to win in these environments and it's not easy," Sampson said.

Next game

Tuesday, 14th-ranked Iowa State, one of the teams that defeated Houston, comes to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tip. The Cyclones defeated TCU 71-59 Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Analysis: Cincinnati Bearcats lose vs. No. 5 Houston in Big 12