

University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach John Brannen's goal for his team every game is to play together and not for selfish reasons.
Brannen wants each player to focus on the final score and not their final stat line.
"That's what coach preaches about, togetherness," UC sophomore guard Jeremiah Davenport said. "Play together all the time, 24-7. He preaches that a lot. ... None of our guys are selfish. We go out and play for each other."
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Cincinnati senior Keith Williams entered Friday night's game against Temple averaging 15.4 points per game, which is fifth most in the American Athletic Conference. But the preseason first-team All-AAC selection scored just seven points against the Owls, spending most of the night on the bench in foul trouble.
The Bearcats responded by playing together, sharing the offensive load and defeating the Owls, 71-69.
Seven different players scored at least seven points, with Davenport and Mika Adams-Wood leading the charge with 12 points apiece.
The victory marked the third in a row for the Bearcats. Cincinnati will look to keep the momentum going Sunday against visiting UCF.
More:Analysis: Bearcats are finding themselves in three-game winning streak
THE GAME
Tipoff: 1 p.m. on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena.
TV/Radio: ESPN+/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: This is the 16th meeting between Cincinnati and UCF, with the Bearcats owning an 11-4 advantage in the series. Cincinnati lost its last two meetings with the Knights, falling 89-87 in double overtime last season at Fifth Third Arena and 75-70 at UCF on Dec. 22, 2020.
SCOUTING REPORT
UCF (6-10, 4-9 AAC)
Coach: Johnny Dawkins, fifth season (89-58)
Offense: 65.1 ppg
Defense: 70.1 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Darius Perry (G, 6’2", 14.2 ppg)
Darin Green Jr. (G, 6'4", 11.8 ppg)
Isaiah Adams (F, 6’6", 8.3 ppg)
C.J. Walker (F, 6’8", 1.5 bpg)
Jamille Reynolds (F, 6’10", 5.2 ppg)
Cincinnati (6-7, 4-4 AAC)
Coach: John Brannen, second season (26-17)
Offense: 68.8 ppg
Defense: 70.2 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
David DeJulius (G, 6’0, 4.9 apg)
Mike Saunders Jr. (G, 6'0, 80% FT shooting)
Keith Williams (G, 6’5”, 14.8 ppg)
Jeremiah Davenport (G, 6'7", 10.2 ppg)
Chris Vogt (C, 7'1", career-high six blocks on Friday)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Darin Green Jr.
The sophomore guard scored a game-high 18 points in a 53-49 win Friday over Tulane. All of Green's points came from beyond the 3-point line as he shot 6 of 10 from behind the arc. Green scored 12 points, including two 3-pointers, in a win over UC earlier this season.
Jeremiah Davenport
Davenport bounced back from a rough outing Feb. 7 at Tulane with a 12-point, eight-rebound, six-assist night Friday against Temple. The sophomore guard has been a dependable source of energy for the Bearcats and has shown an ability to take over games since Brannen put the former Moeller High School standout in the starting lineup on Jan. 7 at SMU.
Jeremiah Davenport: The Cincinnati Bearcats' human spark plug in an unconventional season
KEY TO THE GAME
Take care of the ball
Holding onto the basketball has been a challenge for the Bearcats this season. They've had nightmarish showings on the turnover scale in each of the past two games. Cincinnati committed 18 turnovers Feb. 7 against Tulane and 14 turnovers, seven of them unforced, Friday night against Temple. The Knights scored 26 points off 19 UC turnovers in their last meeting.
RANKINGS
KenPom.com: UCF (107); Cincinnati (92)
RPI: UCF (99); Cincinnati (124)
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