After trailing by double digits in the early stages, the Cincinnati Bearcats battled back but came up short in a 67-62 loss to the Houston Cougars.
Cincinnati finished the first half on a 19-4 run to take a 32-29 lead at halftime but Houston found a way to regain total control in the second half.
During a postgame press conference, Bearcats head coach Wes Miller reflected on the narrow loss to rival Houston per Cincinnati Athletics.
“We are certainly disappointed with that result. We had a real opportunity against the top-five team in the country. They set a tone from start."
#Cincinnati battled back but eventually came up short in a 67-62 loss against Big 12 rival Houston tonight.https://t.co/2jasPCFvIZ pic.twitter.com/gUwJ7EK9qC
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) February 11, 2024
Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats suffer a 67-62 loss to Big 12 rival Houston
Bearcats forward Daniel Skillings Jr scored a team-high 13 points off the bench, while John Newman III posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Cincinnati had a chance to pick up a critical win as Big 12 play continues but Houston proved to be a more complete and physical team again.
Houston was fueled by veteran tandem J'Wan Roberts and Jamal Shead, who combined for a 36-point performance in the conference victory.
Kelvin Sampson's team totaled a 38-22 edge in points in the paint, which was just too much for the Bearcats to overcome on Saturday night.