Recap: No. 16 Texas Tech 80 Cincinnati 68

Game Recap

Cincinnati couldn’t have scripted a better start.  The Bearcats opened the game making their first nine field goal attempts and raced out to a 13-4 lead by the 16:12 mark of the first half. Jizzle James knocked down a pair of early threes, and Cincinnati’s defensive pressure fueled an 8-0 run that forced Texas Tech onto its heels.

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland acknowledged how sharp Cincinnati looked early.

“Give Cincinnati credit,” McCasland said. “I thought they were prepared for the ball screen coverage. We were a little step slow, not as aggressive as we needed to be, and they made us pay early.”

Cincinnati extended the advantage to 20-13 midway through the half and still led 32-27 after a Miller three with 5:34 remaining. At that point, the Bearcats controlled the tempo and rhythm, playing freely and confidently on both ends.

McCasland went on to mention Cincinnati’s recent offensive growth.

“If you ask me based off the last four games, they’ve done a good job of giving more freedom,” he said. “That’s why I think (Baba) Miller is so key to their team.”

He also pointed to stretches against conference competition as evidence of Cincinnati’s upside.

“I thought their stretch at Kansas and that stretch against UCF — they’ve had some great offensive games against teams I think are great defensively,” McCasland said. “There’s no question they have the talent and the coaching to make a run down the stretch and get in the NCAA Tournament. And I respect the way those guys are competing and how hard they play defensively.”

Then the game flipped.

Texas Tech closed the first half on a 15-2 run, turning a five-point deficit into a 42-34 halftime lead. The Red Raiders began to dominate the glass and generate second-chance opportunities that changed the flow of the game.

“We weren't able to defend at the level that I think we're capable of tonight. So I'm disappointed in that,” head coach Wes Miller said. “I was very disappointed in our defensive rebounding and the 19 second-chance points, I think tells the tale of the game.”

In the second half, Cincinnati tried to punch back. Thiam’s dunk and a pair of layups from Jalen Clestine cut the deficit to 49-43 with 15:49 left. Later, Thiam drilled a three-pointer to trim it to 52-46.

(AP Photo / Justin Rex)

But every push was met with a response.

Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson took over, finishing with 31 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes. He scored at all three levels and repeatedly answered Cincinnati runs.

“Anderson obviously had a big-time night and we were trying to make it difficult on him,” Miller said. “But I thought what hurt us more than some of the shot making was when we did get two to the ball and they hit the middle of the floor and were able to score it without any weak side rotation from us.”

Texas Tech eventually stretched the lead to as many as 17 points (80-63) with under two minutes remaining. Cincinnati closed on a small 5-0 run, capped by a fast-break three from Jalen Celestine (15 pts), but the outcome was already decided.

“We take a lot of pride in our defense and rebounding and it wasn't to the standard that we expect tonight,” Miller said.

Despite the result, there was respect from the opposing sideline for Cincinnati’s trajectory.

“They’ve got to show up every night and do it every night in this league,” McCasland said. “But there’s no question they have the talent and the coaching to make a run down the stretch.”

Key Takeaways

1. Thiam’s Effort Wasn’t Enough

Moustapha Thiam led Cincinnati with 21 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double while playing 36 minutes. He went 7-of-19 from the field and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line, consistently battling inside. However, Texas Tech’s physicality on the glass eventually wore down the Bearcats.

2. Baba Miller’s Impact Remains Critical

Miller finished key early buckets and helped Cincinnati build its first-half cushion. As McCasland noted, “That’s why I think Miller is so key to their team.” When Cincinnati plays with freedom and space, Miller’s versatility becomes a matchup problem. Miller contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, as well as knocking down a three-point attempt but foul trouble limited his effectiveness defensively at times. 

3. Rebounding Gap Hurt Cincinnati

Texas Tech won the rebounding battle 40-24, including 12 offensive boards that led to 19 second-chance points. That disparity proved critical, especially during the Red Raiders’ late first-half surge — something Wes Miller repeatedly emphasized afterward.

"I was really frustrated with our defensive rebounding," Miller explained, noting the 11 rebounds that Christian Anderson had from the guard position. "They were really crashing hard from the wings… obviously their bigs were very physical, but they were crashing hard from the wings.”

4. Shooting Efficiency Gap

Cincinnati: 40.3% FG, 33.3% from three
Texas Tech: 51.9% FG, 40.0% from three

The Bearcats attempted 10 more shots but couldn’t match Texas Tech’s efficiency. The Red Raiders also finished 16-of-20 from the free-throw line.

5. Turnovers Weren’t the Issue

Cincinnati committed just three turnovers and scored 13 points off Texas Tech’s 12 miscues. Ball security wasn’t the problem; shot-making and rebounding were.

“You know, this is the Big 12. Playing on the road's difficult," Miller said. "We just won a big game a couple days ago. I liked our competitive spirit and fight even though it didn't go our way. And now we got to respond and get ready for a home game on Saturday.”

Final Thoughts

Cincinnati showed it can compete, especially with the way it controlled the first 15 minutes and dictated terms offensively. Even the opposing head coach acknowledged the preparation, talent and fight the Bearcats brought to the floor.

But against a disciplined and efficient Texas Tech team, lapses are magnified. The 15-2 run to close the first half completely shifted the game’s trajectory, and the rebounding margin ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The formula is there — strong interior presence from Thiam, versatile production from Miller, perimeter scoring from James (12 pts) and Celestine, and excellent ball security. However, until Cincinnati consistently closes defensive possessions with rebounds and sustains defensive intensity for 40 minutes, games like this will remain just out of reach.

The competitive spirit is evident. Now the challenge is turning strong stretches into complete performances.

With three games remaining, including two at home, there is still time for Cincinnati to make a run at throwing their name back into the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation. That starts Saturday with Oklahoma State visiting Fifth Third Arena.