In a clash that unfolded away from the national spotlight, the Cincinnati Bearcats and the 15th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders engaged in a fiercely competitive game, delivering one of the more intense matchups on Saturday. The contest remained tightly contested, with the lead never extending beyond five points in the last 31 1/2 minutes. Ultimately, the Bearcats secured a hard-fought 75-72 road victory, marking their second win on the road against a ranked Big 12 Conference opponent this season.
The decisive moment came with 21 seconds remaining when Simas Lukosius maneuvered around the defense, sinking a mid-range jump shot for the go-ahead basket. John Newman sealed the victory with an emphatic fast-break slam dunk after Red Raiders guard Pop Isaacs missed a short bank shot with 9 seconds on the clock. Isaacs had earlier given Texas Tech (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) a 72-71 lead by hitting a desperation 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, capping his 22-point performance.
The second half epitomized a defensive struggle, with neither team managing to gain significant separation. Cincinnati (15-7, 4-5) held a narrow lead, stifling Texas Tech’s outside shooting and capitalizing on their size advantage to control the boards. Despite the Red Raiders’ struggles from beyond the arc, the Bearcats faced challenges in neutralizing Isaacs, who faced visible frustration and finished 5-of-19 from the floor.
Reserve big man Robert Jennings stepped up for Texas Tech, contributing a season-best 14 points and six rebounds. However, Cincinnati’s balanced attack proved decisive, with Lukosius leading the way with 16 points and four 3-pointers. Dan Skillings added 14 points, Newman contributed 11, and Aziz Bandaoga recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Bearcats claim a 39-35 advantage in the rebound battle.
The Red Raiders, who suffered their first home loss of the season, led 37-36 at halftime after rallying from an early 13-4 deficit. The first half featured a back-and-forth exchange of leads, with the score tied on eight occasions during this closely contested matchup.