Recap: Cincinnati 84 No. 8 Kansas 68
In arguably the most impressive performance of the Wes Miller era, Cincinnati stormed into Allen Fieldhouse and stunned No. 8 Kansas, 84–68, pulling away in the second half to silence the home crowd in Lawrence.
Led by a career-high 28 points from Moustapha Thiam, the Bearcats won their fourth straight conference game to improve to 15-12 on the year and 7-7 in Big 12 play, while the Jayhawks drop to 20-7, 10-4 in conference play.
(Photo: Cincinnati Athletics)
The loss snapped Kansas’ 425-game run of not losing by double-digits at home against an unranked opponent — the largest win by an unranked team in Allen Fieldhouse since Iowa State won by 24 in 1973.
For Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller, the moment was less about history and more about validation.
"Well, listen, this is a great moment for our program and I feel an incredible amount of joy for our players," Miller said. "I've been saying this — not just because we had a good night — they've been so resilient. They've had a great attitude. They keep trying to figure it out. It has not been easy for us all year. We've been dealing with all kinds of personnel stuff, injuries, sicknesses… So to win a game in a place like this against a team like this, I just feel a ton of joy for our players that they get to feel that reward."
Cincinnati didn’t just win — it controlled the final 15 minutes, outscoring the Jayhawks 48–34 after halftime and turning a tight contest into a dominant statement.
Game Recap
The opening 20 minutes featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes, with neither side able to create separation.
Kansas leaned on Flory Bidunga (18 pts, 12 rbs) inside and Darryn Peterson (17 pts) on the perimeter. Bidunga was efficient early, finishing through contact and cleaning up on the glass, helping Kansas build a 32–28 edge midway through the half.
But Cincinnati never blinked.
Baba Miller began asserting himself offensively, ultimately finishing with 18 points, a season-high eight assists and seven rebounds. Jalen Celestine knocked down a pair of late threes to swing momentum, and Thiam drilled a jumper in the final minute to send Cincinnati into the break with a 36–34 lead.
Miller’s early aggressiveness was pivotal.
"How about our frontcourt tonight?" Miller said. "I thought Baba was terrific, and the way those two played off each other was special. Baba really set a tone for us early. It was hard to score early and he made a couple really tough plays over the top to kind of settle us in."
The first half established the blueprint: Kansas could score inside, but Cincinnati’s spacing and shot-making kept the Bearcats a step ahead.
Kansas briefly reclaimed the lead at 40–39 with 17:20 remaining. It would be its last advantage of the afternoon.
From there, sophomore center Moustapha Thiam delivered the best performance of his career — on his birthday.
"Yeah, this is definitely my best birthday," Thiam said. "Just coming out — credit it to my teammates and the staff and everybody. We came out focused and just trying to get the win, and we got it."
Thiam finished with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, adding eight rebounds. He scored at all three levels — face-up jumpers, transition finishes, a dagger three-pointer and a breakaway dunk that punctuated the win.
(AP Photo: Colin E. Braley)
Even his coach didn’t realize how high the total climbed.
"It’s Moustapha’s birthday. That’s one heck of a birthday present," Miller said. "We all got to feel like it was our birthday tonight with him getting — I didn’t even know he had 28. I knew he was playing great, but I thought he was terrific. Not just scoring the ball or stretching it to three, but being a force in the paint and some of the rebounds late."
Thiam’s mindset never changed, even against elite competition in Kansas' Flory Bidunga.
"He’s a terrific player. I’ve been playing with him and against him since I was in high school. I think he’s a really good player," Thiam said of his matchup. "When I come out, it doesn’t matter whatever big man I’m going against — I’ve just got to approach every game the same and just try to compete and get the win."
Between the 7:35 and 2:16 marks, Cincinnati unleashed a 17–4 run fueled by perimeter shooting and transition execution. Celestine buried his fourth three. Day Day Thomas, who scored all 10 of his points in the second half, added a triple and a fast-break layup. By the final minute, the lead had ballooned to 19.
Cincinnati shot 48.4% (31-for-64) from the field and knocked down 12 three-pointers, compared to just four for Kansas.
Key Takeaways
Bearcats dominate the glass
Perhaps the most telling number: Cincinnati won the rebounding battle 40–29, including 14 offensive boards, and held a 15–3 edge in points off turnovers.
Rebounding had been a major focus during the bye week.
"We were really worried about the rebounding," Miller said. "We haven’t been at our best the last couple games on the backboards. So we had a bye week this week, which was much needed. Rebounding was a huge emphasis."
"Rebounding’s will and fight and pursuit of the ball more than it’s any technique… We knew it was a huge key against a really good rebounding team in Kansas. I thought early on we missed a couple blockouts, but as the game went on, I thought we were really good on the board."
Kansas head coach Bill Self didn’t mince words about that disparity.
"I'd say they were more aggressive. They were more physical and we played soft," Self said after being outrebounded by 11.
Self repeatedly pointed to Cincinnati’s frontcourt dominance as the game’s defining factor.
"Well, I mean, we were just awful today defensively and then they were great," Self said. "Their bigs dominated and their guards, we didn't pressure them. They got where they wanted to. So, it was a combination of defensive rebounding, their guards basically getting where they want to go, but their bigs, they destroyed us."
Perimeter Shooting and Defensive Versatility
Kansas entered the game shooting 35% from deep, but Cincinnati's ability to limit the Jayhawks' quality looks from outside heavily impacted the outcome of the game.
Celestine (14 points, eight rebounds, four steals) went 4-of-8 from deep, while Miller added two triples. Cincinnati’s size and length also disrupted Kansas offensively, holding the Jayhawks to 34 second-half points and 41.9% shooting after halftime.
(AP Photo: Colin E. Braley)
Self credited Cincinnati’s defensive scheme and length.
"It was great," Self said. "Their length — they protect the rim. Those shots that Melvin makes a lot of times, it's a little different shooting over 7-2 and 6-11 like that. So yeah, I thought they did a good job for the most part keeping the ball out of the paint… I thought they did a really good job of switching. They didn't switch defenses, but they gave a different look out of timeouts even though it was still man-to-man. They made it look like it was a zone and we didn't handle that very well."
Offensively, Kansas never found rhythm.
"The defensive intensity from everybody was lacking," Self said. "We didn't do anything to cause any type of rhythm adjustments or anything like that that ever made them feel uncomfortable."
Rotation Adjustments and Team Buy-In
Miller shortened his rotation, playing eight and riding combinations that kept the game from slipping away early.
"In this building it can get away from you," Miller said. "I’ve coached here twice before and it can get away from you quickly… Some of the decisions weren’t normal rotational decisions. But how about our bench or the guys that didn’t play? They were just all in. Everybody wanted to do whatever they could to win."
The unity carried into the locker room celebration.
"I couldn’t be prouder of our team and I would have said that regardless of the result tonight," Miller said. "But what I feel joy for is that they get to feel that kind of a reward… I’m wet, so that can tell you — they soaked me and doused me in water and we had a really good time. Those are the special moments as a coach and as a player that you remember forever."
With Jizzle James in foul trouble throughout and not playing the final 13:30, freshman point guard Keyshuan Tillery stepped in and played one of the best games of his young Bearcat career.
Cincinnati was +21 with Tillery on the floor , adding six points, 4 rebounds, two assists, and a block at the 10:26 mark of the second half with UC clinging to a one-point lead.
Final Thoughts
Winning at Kansas is one of the toughest tasks in college basketball. Cincinnati didn’t just survive — it imposed its will.
Thiam delivered a career-high 28 points and eight rebounds. Miller orchestrated the offense with 18 points and eight assists. Celestine filled the stat sheet. Thomas provided second-half punch after starting the game 0-for-8 from the field. The Bearcats dominated the glass, moved the ball (16 assists on 31 field goals), and overwhelmed Kansas with physicality and execution.
Self acknowledged the level Cincinnati played at.
"We played an NCAA tournament team today. There's no doubt about that… They've had their moments this season where they've been inconsistent and not as good, but they were great today."
For Miller, the celebration will be brief.
"We’ll try to enjoy it until midnight and then this is the Big 12," he said. "It doesn’t get any easier."
But for one afternoon in Lawrence — on Thiam’s birthday — everything clicked. And Cincinnati didn’t just look like a team capable of beating an elite opponent.
It looked like one.
Up next is another opportunity for Cincinnati to continue the momentum as they travel to Lubbock Tuesday night to take on a Texas Tech squad that recently lost Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, JT Toppin, to a season-ending injury.