No. 11 Kansas stifled Cincinnati’s offense, holding them to a season-low 40 points, to secure a 54-40 victory on Saturday. Hunter Dickinson led the way for the Jayhawks with 14 points and 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double of the season.
A defensive struggle ensued between two of the nation’s top defensive teams. However, Kansas surged in the second half, holding Cincinnati scoreless for over six minutes and unleashing a 14-0 run to pull away.
“Our defense was exceptional after the first six minutes,” praised Kansas head coach Bill Self. “We executed efficiently down the stretch, finding the right players for the job.”
Zeke Mayo contributed eight points for Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12), who have now won three consecutive games.
Dillon Mitchell led Cincinnati (10-5, 0-4 Big 12) with 10 points, while Arrinten Page and Dan Skillings Jr. each added nine.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, shooting below 40% from the field and combining for just 3-of-18 from beyond the arc.
Cincinnati held a narrow 25-24 lead at halftime.
A decisive moment arrived with 3:48 remaining when a Bearcats turnover led to a Moore dunk off a Mayo assist, extending Kansas’ lead to 46-37.
Takeaways:
- Kansas’ Defense Shines: The Jayhawks have demonstrated their resilience by overcoming halftime deficits in recent games. After trailing Arizona State at home, they held them to just 13 second-half points. Similarly, they overcame a one-point halftime deficit against Cincinnati, limiting them to only 15 points in the final period.
- Cincinnati’s 3-Point Woes Continue: The Bearcats, heavily reliant on 3-pointers (averaging 24 attempts per game), have struggled from beyond the arc in their last three games, connecting on just 16 of 60 attempts (26%).
Turning Point
- Page missed a crucial dunk that would have brought Cincinnati within one point. However, Shakeel Moore’s layup swiftly put Kansas ahead 42-37 with 5:26 remaining. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum decisively in Kansas’ favor, as they outscored the Bearcats 12-3 in the closing minutes.
Stat of the Game
- Kansas capitalized on Cincinnati’s turnovers, scoring 16 points off 12 Bearcats giveaways.
Next Game
The Kansas Jayhawks hit the road to Ames, Iowa on Wednesday to face the Iowa State Cyclones. Pregame is set for 5:30 PM with tipoff from Hilton Coliseum at 6 pm. Catch the game on the following Sunflower State Radio stations: 95.5 KNDY in Marysville; Z-96.3 The Lake in Cawker City and SuperStar Country 102.5 in Norton.
