Recap: Cincinnati 94 Western Carolina 63
The Cincinnati Bearcats tipped off their 2025–26 men’s basketball season with an emphatic 94–63 victory over Western Carolina on Monday night at Fifth Third Arena, showcasing balance, depth, and energy in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
The Bearcats finished 10-of-28 from three, while forcing 22 turnovers to fuel transition offense and easy baskets.
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub )
Freshman Shon Abaev, making his collegiate debut, tied for the team lead with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding two three-pointers and two assists. Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam each added 18 points as well, with Miller grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds for the double-double.
“It helped a lot,” Abaev said of the team’s exhibition games against Michigan and Arkansas leading up to his debut. “As a freshman, just getting used to the physicality and speed of the game really prepared me for what the season’s going to look like. Coach trusts me, and I trust him. That’s why I’m here — to keep doing what he tells me and get better every day.”
Abaev wasted little time making an impression, hitting his first two shots early in the first half and helping Cincinnati build a 23-point lead before halftime with a three with 5:08 remaining in the half. “When you see the first one go in, it makes you feel a lot better,” he said. “I just trust my shot and keep doing what I do best.”
Thiam, who also scored 18 points and pulled down five rebounds, found his rhythm as the game progressed, attacking the rim and finishing through contact.
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub )
“That’s what basketball is,” Thiam said. “You just try to settle in and get into rhythm. The most important thing is to play really good defense and get as many stops as you can.”
Thiam said he’s felt stronger and more prepared entering his sophomore season, thanks to Strength and Conditioning coach Mike Rehfeldt.
“Our strength coach has been doing a great job holding us accountable,” he said. “I’ve probably put on 20 to 22 pounds since last year, and it’s really helped me.”
Head coach Wes Miller praised his team’s balance and effort but emphasized that Monday’s win was just the start of a long developmental process.
“It’s good to get the first one under your belt,” Miller said. “We’ve played two exhibition games on the road, so it was really nice to get out in Fifth Third in front of our fans. These guys have been waiting for this moment for five months, and I appreciate all the people who came out tonight.”
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub )
Miller credited his team’s depth and playmaking as major positives.
“You look down and see 20 assists, you’re happy with that,” he said. “We have a lot of guys who can make plays, score the ball, and make good decisions. I think the depth of our team is going to be a real strength. All 11 guys we played tonight can contribute when we get into Big 12 play.”
While pleased with the offensive flow, Miller said the Bearcats’ best basketball is still ahead.
“I don’t have an expectation that this team’s going to play its best basketball in the first week of November,” he said. “The goal is to play our best in February and March. I think this group is capable of continuing to improve and getting very good.”
Miller also pointed to the team’s transition style as a key identity: “We want to be a running team, and that takes some stomach to live with growing pains. But I think by the time we get to Big 12 play, this group can be elite in that style.”
Cincinnati scored 26 points off 22 Western Carolina turnovers and outscored the Catamounts 16-0 in fast break points.
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub )
The Bearcats’ bench also outscored Western Carolina’s reserves 26–10, with Jordy Rodriguez contributing 10 points and Sincere Harris adding six. Cincinnati’s defense held Western Carolina to just 35.9% shooting.
Cord Stansberry led the Catamounts with 23 points, while Marcus Kell had 12 points and nine rebounds.
For Miller, the focus remains on steady improvement.
“We’re doing what we need to be doing,” he said. “Each week, we seem to be improving. The goal is to wake up tomorrow and attack it again — and by January and February, be a great basketball team.”
(Photo: Taylor Keeton / Bearcatsportshub )
Final Thoughts:
This was a game where UC should have dominated with their superior length and athleticism and they did just that, actively taking the Catamounts out of what they wanted to do at both ends of the floor.
Despite committing 15 turnovers and shooting just 67% from the free throw line, the Bearcats controlled the game wire-to-wire, never trailing, and put together a dominant season-opening win with unselfish play and relentless energy.
Nine different players played 14 or more minutes, allowing Miller to experiment with different lineups and get a feel for what could work moving forward.
The Bearcats will need to improve in certain areas, but overall, it was a good season opening win to build off.
Up Next:
UC will host Georgia State Friday evening for a 7pm tip-off inside Fifth Third Arena.
Postgame vidoes: