The score line from Cincinnati’s 79-68 exhibition win over Ohio State looked good, but the bigger lesson from the afternoon was simpler: nobody around the Bearcats is pretending an October exhibition means much on its own.
That’s not a new reality for Cincinnati. Two years ago, the Bearcats were ranked No. 20 in the preseason and celebrated beating the Buckeyes, only to finish 18-15 while Ohio State ended up 17-15.
Last year, Wes Miller’s team knocked off preseason No. 7 Michigan 100-98 in Ann Arbor, then got punched back into reality in its next exhibition at Arkansas and finished 19-16.
Michigan went on to win the NCAA title at Lucas Oil Stadium.
So yes, beating Ohio State was fun for Cincinnati. And no, it will not move the needle with the NCAA Selection Committee.
Still, there was plenty to take from the Oct. 7 game at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason, especially once the Bearcats settled in after a rough start.
Offense: B
Cincinnati’s first half was a slog. The Bearcats shot 34.4%, hit only 2 of 13 from 3-point range and went 6 of 14 at the line while the shooting conditions shifted from shade to partial sunlight. Jayden Hastings gave them their best early stretch and finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Cincinnati controlled the paint with a 48-32 edge there.
Once the second half opened up in full sunlight, the Bearcats looked like a different team. They shot 65.4% after halftime and made 72.2% of their free throws in the period.
The 3-point volume stayed low - six attempts, two makes - but Cincinnati kept finding ways to score, even while the turnovers piled up. The Bearcats also won fast-break points 10-7.
Tylen Riley’s layup with 5:11 left put Cincinnati ahead 64-62, and from there the Bearcats closed on a 15-6 burst to pull away. If you watched last year’s team, that kind of finish was not something you saw often.
Defense: B-
Jerrod Calhoun had reason to be frustrated with the whistle. Ohio State got to the line 36 times, although it converted just 20 for 55.6%. John Mobley Jr. scored 15 for the Buckeyes, but he went only 2 of 9 from deep.
Cincinnati gave up some second-chance production, 11-9, but turned defense into offense better than Ohio State did. The Bearcats won points off turnovers 19-16 and came away with nine steals.
Neither team shot especially well from beyond the arc. Cincinnati finished 4 of 19 from 3-point range, while Ohio State was even colder at 4 of 23.
Rebounding: A
This was one of the cleanest advantages for Cincinnati. Even while trailing 35-30 at halftime, the Bearcats were controlling the boards early and finished with a 45-35 rebounding edge.
Adlan Elamin supplied eight rebounds in under 15 minutes off the bench. Eric Mahaffey added seven, and Hastings chipped in six, including three offensive rebounds. Cincinnati finished with a 13-11 edge on the offensive glass.
MVP: Tylen Riley
Riley’s hand injury was healed enough for him to come off the bench and make an immediate impact. He led both teams with 23 points, going 6 of 12 from the field and 11 of 16 at the line. He accounted for half of Cincinnati’s 32 free-throw attempts and kept getting downhill with ease.
Riley and Tyler Tejada were the driving forces behind the comeback. Tejada scored 17, with 15 of those points coming in the second half.
Player to watch: Trevian Carson
The North Dakota State transfer started at guard and logged more minutes than anyone on either team, finishing just 16 seconds short of 31 minutes in the 80-degree heat. The stat line - three points, two rebounds and two assists - does not jump off the page, but Carson made his presence felt with defense and pressure.
He had three steals, part of Cincinnati’s nine total, and his plus/minus was 24. Tejada also finished with three steals and a plus/minus of 19.
Injury note
Myles Colvin started but left after fewer than three minutes. He finished with two points and a rebound before exiting. Calhoun said he was held out as a precaution, though he could have returned if needed, and he was expected to be fine by Cincinnati’s next practice.