(Updated: CHANGED “60.1” to “60.7” in second graph CHANGED “No. 8” to “eighth place” in first note of GAME NOTEBOOK)
Cincinnati 69, Middle Tennessee State 48: Sean Kilpatrick led all scorers with 23 points as the host Bearcats found their offense in the second half.
Justin Jackson added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 12 rebounds for his third career double-double for Cincinnati (9-2). The Bearcats shot 60.7 percent from the floor in the second half – including a 6-of-12 mark from behind the 3-point line – after making just six field goals in the first half.
Kerry Hammonds II had 17 points off the bench for Middle Tennessee State (8-4), hitting 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Tweety Knight also contributed a career-high 10 rebounds and seven points, but the Blue Raiders finished the game shooting 26.7 percent.
Hammonds hit three 3-pointers in the final seven minutes of the first half while Cincinnati had just one field goal, sending the game to halftime tied at 21. The teams combined for 11-of-44 shooting and 19 turnovers in the first half.
Cincinnati made as many field goals in the first 5:14 of the second half as it did in the first half (six) and jumped to a double-digit lead. Kilpatrick had 10 points during a 19-6 run to start the second half and scored six straight points during a 13-2 spree for a 58-34 lead with about 8:18 left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kilpatrick (1,650) passed Lou Banks (1,644 points, 1988-91) for eighth place on Cincinnati’s career scoring list. … Jackson had four blocks, the eighth time this season he’s had at least three. … It was the lowest point total of the season for Middle Tennessee State, which scored more than 100 points against two non-NCAA Division I teams earlier this month.
