In a game that saw the Allen Fieldhouse crowd go from silent to roaring, Elmarko Jackson tied the score at 49 with 12 minutes left, but missed opportunities allowed Cincinnati to maintain their lead and eventually upset eighth-ranked Kansas 84-68.
Cincinnati's forwards, Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam, were a force to be reckoned with, combining for 46 points. Their unexpected success from beyond the arc, hitting four of seven attempts, was a game-changer. Known for their defense, the Bearcats surprised everyone by going 12-for-31 on 3-pointers, while Kansas struggled at 4-for-18, with two of those coming in the game's dying moments.
Jalen Celestine and Day Day Thomas delivered clutch shots to seal the win, with Celestine finishing with 14 points. For Kansas, Flory Bidunga posted 18 points and 12 rebounds, but faced challenges in the second half, including foul trouble. Darryn Peterson logged significant minutes, scoring 17 points on as many shots.
The Jayhawks were outrebounded 40-29 and gave up 14 offensive boards, marking their first home loss in Big 12 play and putting a dent in their conference title hopes.
Miller set the tone early, drawing a foul on Bidunga, who managed to score before heading to the bench with an 8-5 lead. The Bearcats quickly tied it up with a 3-pointer from Jizzle James. Despite Kansas moving the ball well and taking a brief lead, Cincinnati's Celestine answered back, keeping the game tight.
Peterson gave Kansas a slim lead with a reverse layup, but the Bearcats responded with back-to-back 3s from Thiam and Celestine. The first half ended with Cincinnati leading 36-34 after a missed opportunity by Kansas to take the lead.
The second half saw Kansas briefly regain the lead, but Bidunga's third foul and a three-point play by Thiam shifted momentum back to Cincinnati. As the Bearcats extended their lead, Jackson's efforts to ignite the crowd fell short with missed chances.
Cincinnati capitalized with a series of free throws and a crucial 3-pointer by Thomas. Thiam's left-wing 3-pointer pushed the Bearcats ahead 61-56, and Celestine's offensive rebound and subsequent 3-pointer extended the lead to 66-58, initiating a decisive 17-2 run.
With this loss, Kansas fell to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in conference play. They'll need to regroup quickly as they face No. 2 Houston at home on Monday at 8 p.m.