JaQuon Parker scored 21 points, helping the No. 11 Cincinnati Bearcats overcome a six-point halftime deficit to defeat the Wright State Raiders, 68-58, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. The Bearcats remain undefeated at 12-0 with the win.
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. Wright State final score: Bearcats overcome slow start to fend off Raiders
JaQuon Parker sparks a 23-4 second-half run to lead No. 11 Cincinnati to victory.
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The game was tight throughout the first half, tied at 20 with about four minutes to go before a late 7-0 run gave the Raiders a seven-point halftime lead. Wright State would extend that lead to nine as Tavares Sledge found himself open for a layup on the first play of the second half. However, the bottom then fell out for the Raiders, as Cincinnati unleashed a 23-4 run, 15 of those points being scored by Parker, to give the Bearcats a 10-point lead and control of the game. While Wright State managed to keep Cincinnati from running away, the Raiders were never able to get the deficit closer than six points the rest of the way.
Jerran Young led the Raiders with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while JT Yoho added 13. Wright State shot only 32 percent and were out-rebounded by 11 by the physical Cincinnati defense.
Parker's 21 paced the Bearcats, while Sean Kilpatrick (12) and Titus Rubles added six and nine rebounds. Cincinnati shot only 38 percent from the field, but was sparked by the rebounding advantage and 10 blocked shots.
Wright State drops to 8-4 with the loss. They face Mt. St. Joseph on Dec. 30, before traveling to Green Bay for the Horizon League opener.
Cincinnati sits undefeated at 12-0, and will host No. 16 New Mexico Dec. 27. That is the last non-conference game before the Big East opener at Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve.
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