Recap: Cincinnati 79 Iowa State 70

Game Recap

Iowa State struck first with quick baskets from Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson to take a 6–2 lead, but that advantage would prove fleeting. Once Cincinnati settled in defensively, the Bearcats flipped the tone of the game with pace, pressure, and timely shooting.

The turning point of the first half came midway through when Cincinnati unleashed a 14–0 run fueled by transition offense and perimeter shooting. Jizzle James and Day Day Thomas sparked the surge, but it was Jalen Celestine who blew the game open, knocking down three straight three-pointers in a span of 90 seconds. What had been an 8–7 Iowa State edge suddenly became a 19–8 Cincinnati lead, and the Cyclones were playing uphill the rest of the half.

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

Miller pointed directly to transition defense and ball pressure as the catalyst.

“When our defense gets live-ball stops, our transition game gets real,” Miller said. “We actually missed a couple good looks in transition — it could have been an even better number. But I thought our cutting off the ball tonight was huge… that has a lot to do with getting more aggressive downhill.”

Iowa State steadied itself behind Milan Momcilovic, who began finding his rhythm from the perimeter, but Cincinnati consistently answered. The Bearcats closed the half with strong interior play from Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam, carrying a 35–31 halftime lead despite Momcilovic’s late flurry.

The Cyclones opened the second half aggressively and briefly tied the game at 38–38, but once again Cincinnati responded with poise. Thomas buried a three, Miller followed with another from the wing, and Cincinnati regained control. From there, the Bearcats gradually stretched the margin with efficient half-court offense and relentless defensive rebounding.

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

Midway through the second half, Cincinnati delivered its knockout punch. A sequence of baskets from Thomas, James, and Harris capped a run that pushed the lead to 67–50 with 7:37 remaining, Cincinnati’s largest advantage of the afternoon. Iowa State continued to battle behind Momcilovic’s shooting, trimming the margin to five on multiple occasions, but every push was answered—either with a timely jumper or trips to the free-throw line.

Thomas credited preparation and discipline against Iowa State’s pressure defense.

“We know they was pretty aggressive on defense — that’s what they really do,” Thomas said. “We just know we had to take care of the ball. Can’t be casual with it… We prepare for these moments. We do a lot of stuff in practice with five minutes left in the game — value possessions one by one and just keep chipping at it.”

Down the stretch, Cincinnati stayed composed. Harris and James combined to go 6-for-6 at the line in the final minute, sealing a 79–70 upset that was controlled far more than the final score might suggest.

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

Afterward, the Fifth Third Arena crowd poured onto the floor — a moment Miller embraced for everyone except, temporarily, his locker room.

“I’m proud of our players because they deserve to feel it and they created that opportunity tonight,” Miller said. “I’m really glad our fans, our students, our former players — they get to feel that tonight. But as a team, when it hits 12:01, that joy is over and it’s about trying to create another opportunity to do it again.”

Key Takeaways:

• Ball security and decision-making set the foundation
  Cincinnati committed just 8 turnovers against one of the most disruptive defenses in the country, compared to 12 by Iowa State. That four-turnover margin translated directly into a 20–10 edge in points off turnovers, allowing the Bearcats to manufacture offense even when shots weren’t falling. Freshman Keyshuan Tillery played especially well, contributing 19 minutes and having zero turnovers. 

  Miller singled out Jizzle James’ command of the offense.

  “I thought it was as good of a floor game as I’ve ever seen him play,” Miller said. “Think about all the pressure he had to handle just to get our offense started. He handled the pressure masterfully.”

• Rebounding effort neutralized Iowa State’s physical edge
  Cincinnati won the rebounding battle 39–32, including a 15–11 advantage on the offensive glass. Baba Miller led the way with 12 rebounds, while Moustapha Thiam added 6 boards in just 22 minutes. Those extra possessions helped Cincinnati stay in control despite Iowa State’s free-throw advantage and limited Cyclone second-half momentum. 

  Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger credited Cincinnati’s interior presence.

  “They’ve got tremendous size and length on the interior and those guys take pride in rebounding the ball,” Otzelberger said. “When they got those offensive rebounds, those are deflating plays for your defense.”

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

• Balanced scoring overwhelmed Iowa State’s one-man show
  While Milan Momcilovic scored 34 of Iowa State’s 70 points, Cincinnati countered with five players scoring eight or more points and three in double figures. Day Day Thomas (19), Jizzle James (15), and Sencire Harris (12) combined for 46 points, spreading the floor and preventing Iowa State from loading up on any single scorer. 

  Otzelberger acknowledged Cincinnati’s composure when it mattered most.

  “It seemed like they always had a timely shot when they needed one,” he said. “Somebody stepped up and made a timely play.”

• Bench production was decisive
  Cincinnati’s bench contributed 20 points compared to just 5 from Iowa State, a massive swing in a nine-point game. Celestine’s 12 points on four three-pointers, along with scoring from Tillery and McKinley, allowed Cincinnati to maintain scoring pressure even when starters rested. 

  Otzelberger acknowledged Cincinnati’s composure when it mattered most.

  “It seemed like they always had a timely shot when they needed one,” he said. “Somebody stepped up and made a timely play.”

• Physicality showed up defensively and at the rim
  Cincinnati recorded 4 blocks and 8 steals, doubling Iowa State’s steals total. The Bearcats also limited Iowa State to just 26 points in the paint, forcing the Cyclones into perimeter-heavy possessions and contested jumpers. Iowa State attempted 21 three-pointers, many late in the shot clock, a direct result of Cincinnati’s ball pressure. 

  Otzelberger praised the Bearcats’ defensive identity.

  “They have a tremendous defensive identity,” he said. “They did a great job of really disrupting us offensively, especially early. You could tell they were very well prepared and very well coached.”

• Fast-break efficiency changed the game’s rhythm
  Cincinnati scored 13 fast-break points to Iowa State’s 2, repeatedly turning defensive stops into instant offense. Thomas, Harris, and James all capitalized in transition, preventing Iowa State from setting its half-court defense and fueling multiple extended runs, including the 14–0 first-half burst that flipped the game. “When things didn’t go our way offensively, they were playing downhill at us,” Otzelberger said. “That was probably the difference in the game.”

(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub)

• Poise late closed the door
  In the final minute, Cincinnati went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, finishing the game at 75% overall. Harris (6-of-8) and James (2-of-2) were especially clutch under pressure, while Iowa State finished just 63% at the stripe, leaving points on the board during its comeback attempts.  

  For Harris, the win carried personal meaning.

  “It means a lot, man,” Harris said. “This guy right here (Wes Miller) been through a lot. Just enjoy it today, then get back to work tomorrow.”

Final Thoughts:

This was more than a signature win — it was validation. The Bearcats didn’t rely on emotion, hot shooting, or Iowa State mistakes; they won with toughness, discipline, and maturity against one of the nation’s best. After months of close calls and hard lessons, Cincinnati proved it can absorb pressure, respond to adversity, and finish games the right way. If this performance is any indication, the Bearcats didn’t just announce themselves Saturday — they raised the standard for what this group believes it can become. The Cats will now try to follow up this massive win with a two-game road swing at No.1 Arizona on Wednesday and Arizona State on Saturday. 

Postgame Video: Wes Miller, Day Day Thomas, Sencire Harris

Game Highlights: