Recap: No. 14 Arkansas 89 Cincinnati 61

Cincinnati’s final preseason tune-up offered a harsh reminder of how slim the margins can be against elite opponents. The Bearcats couldn’t find their offensive rhythm Friday night, shooting just 28.4% from the field and falling 89–61 to Arkansas in a tough road exhibition at Bud Walton Arena.

(Photo: Hank Layton / WholeHogSports)

After briefly leading 3–2 in the opening minute, the Bearcats watched the Razorbacks take control with an 11–0 run that flipped momentum for good. From there, Cincinnati never led again and trailed by as many as 35 points midway through the second half.

The Bearcats’ offense sputtered from the start, going 9-for-36 from three-point range (25%) and missing a host of open looks around the rim. Senior guard Day Day Thomas struggled through a tough night, going 0-for-7 from the field, while Kerr Kriisa managed just 6 points on 2-of-9 shooting, though he did knock down a pair of threes.

"This was a difficult experience for all involved on the Cincinnati side," Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller said. "The game doesn't count, but it will only matter if we make it count down the line. We set out early with a new group of faces to have some early adversity. We aren't as good of a team as we felt when we left Ann Arbor last week and we certainly aren't as bad as we feel leaving here tonight."

The Bearcats did find some sparks off the bench. Halvine Dzellat led Cincinnati in scoring with 10 points and 6 rebounds on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting in 11 minutes. Jalen Celestine added 9 points, all from beyond the arc, while Jordi Rodriguez chipped in 7 points and 6 boards in 16 minutes of energetic play.

For the starters, Shon Abavev posted 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Baba Miller fought inside for 6 points and 6 rebounds. Tyler McKinley provided toughness off the bench, adding 6 points and converting 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Despite the offensive woes, Cincinnati battled evenly on the glass, finishing even with Arkansas at 43 rebounds apiece. The Bearcats’ 15 offensive rebounds led to a 15–5 advantage in second-chance points, showcasing their frontcourt hustle even when shots weren’t falling.

Defensively, Cincinnati forced 13 Arkansas turnovers and held the Hogs without a field goal for the final 3:11, but by then, the damage was done. Arkansas shot a blistering 53.2% from the field and 40% from three, with Meleek Thomas (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Darius Acuff Jr. (17 points, 4 assists) pacing a balanced Razorback attack.

The Bearcats’ ball movement was inconsistent — they finished with 15 assists on 21 made shots, but also committed 14 turnovers that Arkansas turned into 23 fast-break points.

Cincinnati’s best stretch came midway through the second half, when a 6–0 run sparked by back-to-back buckets from Dzellat and Celestine trimmed the deficit to 20. However, Arkansas responded with another burst and pushed the margin back above 30.

The Bearcats’ last field goal came from Rodriguez, who buried a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to make it 89–61 — the final margin.

For Cincinnati, the exhibition served as a chance to test rotations and see how new pieces fit, but also exposed offensive kinks that need smoothing before the real games begin.

The Bearcats will open the regular season November at Fifth Third Arena, looking to bounce back and rediscover the rhythm that eluded them in Fayetteville.

Stat Breakdown