By Cord Rankin
GAME NOTES
https://gobearcats.com/documents/2024/12/21/2024-25_Game_Notes_Grambling.pdf
CINCINNATI — The No. 19 Cincinnati men’s basketball team, after defeating No. 22 Dayton Friday night in an 8:30 p.m. clash, is back in action Sunday when it hosts preseason SWAC favorite Grambling State at 4 p.m. It is the first all-time meeting between the schools.
THE RUNDOWN
- This is UC’s only two-games-in-three-days stretch of the year and the sixth under Miller overall.
- Cincinnati never trailed against No. 22 Dayton, leading by 13 in the first half and 18 in the second, before staving off the Flyers’ rally in a 66-59 win. Five of Wes Miller‘s six ranked wins at UC have come away from home (vs. Illinois, @ BYU, TCU, @ Texas Tech, vs. Kansas, vs. Dayton in order)
- Dayton entered 10th nationally in KenPom’s offensive efficiency, while UC was seventh on the defensive end. The Bearcats held UD to season-lows in points, field goal percentage (39.2) and a high in turnovers (17). The 10-straight games of allowing fewer than 70 points is UC’s best streak since 12 in 2018-19. Villanova’s 68 and Howard’s 67 points are the most UC has allowed this season.
- Jizzle James scored 14 points, in addition to career-highs of three blocks and four three-pointers. It came after going 0-for-11 against Xavier but serving as an unsung hero with two foul shots in the final seconds to help seal it. His deep shooting is up 9.8 percent from last year (36.8 percent) and nine makes off that total already.
- UC went 11-of-12 from the foul line over the final 5:59 against Dayton, a newfound strength of the team it hopes to maintain. It is shooting 74.5 percent the last two games, also top rivalry ones, after 59.4 percent all season prior. Aziz Bandaogo is shooting a career-best 70.4 percent, up 15.9 from last year.
- Cincinnati has won back-to-back games shooting under 38 percent, but it has risen to No. 5 in KenPom defense. This also comes on the heels of Villanova and Howard shooting 48.9 and 48.1 percent, respectively, against UC, an impressive turn to say the least.
- UC had 12 offensive rebounds in the first half alone, finishing with 17, and a plus-7 differential in second-chance points was exactly the difference. Five of Dan Skillings’ six boards came on the offensive glass. Including Friday night postgame, Skillings has always said rebounding is what gets his game going and sets his tone.
- Skillings’ third game back, and season-high 27 minutes, was a showcase of his old self, leading all players with 17 points, a career-high four steals and converting the most acrobatic drives imaginable with varying smiles after each one. He is also 10-for-11 at the foul line after going 65.4 percent his first two years.
- Cincinnati is 8-0 when leading at the half, with Xavier (down 31-30) being the other win.
- Miller was also quick to point out the toughness Arrinten Page and Connor Hickman displayed after missing practices and pushing through physically amidst heavy illness this week.
GIVE THE EQUIPMENT STAFF CREDIT
Cincinnati’s win over No. 22 Dayton featured the elephant-print black uniforms from the Xavier win for the second-straight game. Head coach Wes Miller, while saying he loves talking about jerseys, shoes and gear in the offseason, gave Director of Olympic Sports Equipment Andy Frigge a shoutout after the Dayton game.
“Andy handles the equipment for our program and a lot of others. He asked me this morning which black uniforms we wanted to wear. I told him I don’t care, I just want to win the game. You pick and you surprise me, but you better pick the one that wins. So, Frigge is in good shape with me now. Shoutout to Frigge.
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