MEMPHIS, Tenn. - No. 24-ranked Cincinnati opened its play in the 2019 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Championship in the quarterfinal round and was able to hold off a game SMU squad. The No. 2-seeded Bearcats finished strong down the stretch to defeat No. 10 SMU, 82-74.
Jarron Cumberland, the 2019 Player of the Year, once again led the way for the Bearcats as he scored 17 of his 26 points in the second half to close out the win.
Both teams shot over 50 percent. SMU hit 51.7-percent (30-of-58), while Cincinnati shot 50.8-percent (31-of-61). Each team shot 50 percent from behind the arc in the first half.
There were seven ties and five lead changes in the game but the final There were seven ties and five lead changes in the game but the final tie was broken at 66-all when Nysier Brooks connected on a free throw to put Cincinnati up for good at 4:28 in the second.
It sparked an 11-2 run for the Bearcats as Keith Williams, Cane Broome and Cumberland all hit their shots from the line while Cincinnati limited SMU's chances.
Cumberland went 10-of-2o from the field and added three 3-pointers, eight assists, four rebounds, a block and a steal. Tre Scott also stepped up for Cincinnati with 17 points, a game-high 12 rebounds and two steals. Jenifer matched with 17 points of his own and went 5-of-5 from the field in the first half with four 3-pointers.
Jimmy Whitt, Jr. led SMU with 24 points on 12-of-19 shooting and also grabbed seven rebounds. Freshman Feron Hunt paced the Mustangs with eight rebounds off the bench.
It was just a two-point game at the break as Jenifer hit a 3-pointer before the horn to put the Bearcats up at halftime.
Cincinnati advances to its second-straight semifinal round and faces the winner of No. 3 Temple and No. 6 Wichita State on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.