Balanced Cincinnati tramples UCF by 20

Field Level Media|published: Sun 8th February, 16:22 2026

NCAA Basketball: Central Florida at Cincinnati

Feb 8, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam (52) battles for the loose ball against UCF Knights center John Bol (7) in the first half at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Baba Miller scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead all five starters in double figures as Cincinnati controlled visiting UCF by a 92-72 count in Big 12 play on Sunday.

Moustapha Thiam posted 15 points and seven rebounds as he returned to action against his previous school after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

Jizzle James scored 15 points and Jalen Celestine added 14 for Cincinnati (12-12, 4-7), which pulled away with a 14-2 second-half run and reached the 90-point mark for the first time in Big 12 play since a Feb. 5, 2025, win at UCF.

Chris Johnson and Jordan Burks each scored 16 points to lead the Knights (17-6, 6-5), who lost their second straight game by 20-plus points to scuff their NCAA Tournament resume after a three-game win streak.

Themus Fulks, UCF's leading playmaker and second-leading scorer, was held scoreless and had just two assists in 19 minutes. He played just four minutes in the second half.

As they did against West Virginia on Thursday, the Bearcats were able to assume control in the opening 20 minutes.

Cincinnati took a 21-13 lead before UCF's Jamichael Stillwell (14 points) knocked down a jumper with 5:30 left to cap a 6-0 run and forge a 26-26 tie. But Cincinnati caught fire and closed the half on a 14-2 run, highlighted by a pair of Celestine 3-pointers to end the half.

The Bearcats opened the second half by scoring the first nine points to take a 49-30 lead, capping a 23-2 run that seemingly gave Cincinnati control of the game with 18:13 to play.

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins removed Fulks shortly thereafter and he did not return until there was less than eight minutes left.

Meanwhile, UCF unleashed an 11-0 run that featured three straight 3-pointers -- one by Chris Johnson and two by George Beale Jr. -- to draw within 62-56 with 9:33 left.

Thiam hit a baseline jumper to end the UCF rally and James added a deep three from the left wing to spark a 9-0 spurt and restore Cincinnati's lead to double figures at 71-56.

After a Stillwell jumper, Cincinnati scored seven straight points to push the lead back to 78-58 with six minutes remaining.

--Field Level Media