The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team owned a 13-0 advantage in fast-break points in Thursday's win over Cleveland State.
The Bearcats (2-0) were able to use their length and athleticism to get out and run and use their depth to outlast the Vikings, 69-58.
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Second-year Cincinnati coach Wes Miller played 10 different players in the victory. Eight of them played double-digit minutes. The other two (forwards Ody Oguama and Kalu Ezikpe) saw more than eight minutes of action. That depth is exactly what Miller hopes to have as an advantage every night.
Long, athletic and deep.
"Man, I want to be. I really do." Miller said after Thursday's win. "I thought there in the second half we finally got some things in transition. I was really disappointed in our run game early. No. 1, you've got to get stops to run and run effectively. But even on made baskets we want to get a good push, and we weren't doing that. So, yeah, I was disappointed in our run game early in the game. I think if we can run consistently, make good decisions with the ball and not take bad shots, we can wear people down over the course of the game at that (defensive) end, the way that we guard and play defense and press. I think we can get into our bench and use our depth."
Miller and the Bearcats close out their season-opening, three-game homestand Sunday against Eastern Kentucky (1-1), which suffered a 66-60 home loss to in-state rival Western Kentucky on Thursday. Cincinnati will look to use its length, athleticism and depth to skate past the Colonels and improve to 3-0.
UC Bearcats basketball vs. Eastern Kentucky
Tipoff: Noon on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena
TV/Radio: ESPN+/WLW-AM (700)
Series info: Cincinnati and Eastern Kentucky are set to meet for the 11th time, with the Bearcats winning each of the previous 10 matchups. The Bearcats used a 12-4 run to outlast the Colonels 85-77 in overtime in their last meeting Dec. 20, 2008, at Fifth Third Arena.
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