CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bearcats put on a show at Fifth Third Arena, riding the hot hand of graduate guard Day Day Thomas to a convincing 91-68 victory over Oklahoma State. Thomas was electric, dropping a season-high 26 points, including seven three-pointers, to lead the charge.
With this win, Cincinnati moves to 16-13 overall and 8-8 in conference play, showcasing a strong finish with victories in four of their last five games. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State slips to 17-12 and 5-11 in the Big 12.
The Bearcats wasted no time taking control. After trailing by a single point in the opening minute, they unleashed back-to-back runs of 10-2 and 10-3, storming to a 51-33 lead by halftime.
The second half was more of the same, as a 16-5 burst extended the lead to 70-40. Thomas nailed a three-pointer with just over eight minutes left, pushing the advantage to a game-high 81-49, allowing Cincinnati to coast to victory.
Thomas wasn’t the only standout. Sophomore Moustapha Thiam was a force, tallying 24 points and grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Senior Baba Miller contributed across the board with 11 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Oklahoma State found some offense through Vyctorius Miller, who led the team with 15 points. But it wasn’t enough to counter Cincinnati’s barrage from beyond the arc, as the Bearcats connected on 14 three-pointers and dominated the boards with a 43-32 rebounding edge.
The Bearcats set the tone early, hitting six of their first eight shots to jump out to a 17-7 lead. Thiam’s alley-oop dunk from Keyshuan Tillery was a highlight, pushing the margin to 40-22 late in the first half. Although Oklahoma State managed a brief 5-0 run, Cincinnati quickly reasserted control, leading 51-33 at the break.
In the first half, Thiam led with 17 points and six rebounds, while Miller chipped in nine points, six boards, and three assists. Thomas reached a milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points with a free throw, adding 11 first-half points. Oklahoma State’s Kanye Clary contributed nine points in the opening frame.
This performance not only solidifies Cincinnati's momentum but also highlights their potential as they continue their push in conference play.