UConn Huskies at Cincinnati Bearcats

No. 7 Cincinnati rallies past UConn to extend win streak to 15

The Hall of Famer sat courtside and watched the senior guard score 26 points and get a team-high 12 rebounds on Thursday night, rallying No. 7 Cincinnati to a 63-58 victory over No. 22 Connecticut.

The Bearcats (22-2, 11-0 American Athletic) got their 15th straight win with Kilpatrick finishing it off at the free throw line in the closing seconds. During a late timeout, Robertson raised his hand in a shooting motion toward Kilpatrick, who knew what he meant.

Kilpatrick's response? A "take-it-easy" motion.

"He kept giving me the signal to shoot," Kilpatrick said. "I told him to relax."

Cincinnati has won 18 straight at home, including all 16 this season. The Bearcats are off to their best start in 12 years.

"That's what we've been hoping for," forward Titus Rubles said. "It's good to see the city excited for Cincinnati basketball again. We definitely enjoyed the crowd today. It was a big factor in helping us with our energy."

Justin Jackson had six of his 15 points and blocked a shot during a 13-4 run that rallied Cincinnati midway through the second half. Jermaine Sanders' two free throws with 18.5 seconds left gave Cincinnati a 61-58 lead.

UConn's Niels Giffey missed a 3-point attempt, and Kilpatrick got the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws.

"The mark of great players is that they rise to the occasion," Bearcats coach Mick Cronin said. "He has the ability to rise to the occasion."

Shabazz Napier scored 16 points for the Huskies (17-5, 5-4) who were playing their highest-ranked opponent this season. They are 2-2 against Top 25 teams, with wins over Florida and Memphis and losses to Louisville and Cincinnati.

Two hours before tip-off, Cincinnati introduced Mike Bohn as its next athletic director. His top priority: Get the Bearcats into a better conference. Cincinnati and Connecticut tried to move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, but were rebuffed. Instead, Louisville will move from the American Athletic into the ACC next season.

The game matched two of the AAC's top guards. Kilpatrick leads the league at 19.4 points per game, while Napier averages 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. Shabazz got the better of it early. Kilpatrick, who played all 40 minutes, rallied the Bearcats at the end.

"Justin Jackson and Kilpatrick took over the game," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. "It was a heck of a performance by (Kilpatrick). We couldn't get him out of the game. They just took it to us in the second half."

Napier went only 2 of 12 beyond the arc and missed a 3-point attempt that could have put the Huskies ahead with 30 seconds to go.

Connecticut led for all but 40 seconds in the first half with its guards darting through Cincinnati's defense for layups and assists.

Ryan Boatright scored six consecutive points as UConn pulled ahead 21-15. He fell hard on his left shoulder while going for the ball and left the game grimacing. He returned a few minutes later and scored only three points the rest of the game.

Napier made a driving bank shot high off the backboard, then drove under the basket and passed outside to Giffey for a wide-open 3-pointer that built UConn's lead to 26-18. Another 3 by Giffey gave the Huskies a 10-point lead.

The Huskies made four of their first six shots in the second half to hold the lead. Omar Calhoun's baseline jumper put the Huskies ahead 42-34.

Jackson then led the Bearcats on the 13-4 run. He emphatically blocked a shot to set up a fast break that culminated in Kilpatrick's dunk. Jackson picked up a loose ball on the Bearcats' next possession and dunked, then followed with a driving bank shot for a 47-46 lead with 7:34 left.

Kilpatrick hit another 3 that started a six-point spurt and gave Cincinnati its biggest lead, 53-49. The Bearcats stayed ahead the rest of the way.

How can I watch UConn vs. Cincinnati?

• TV Channel: UConn at Cincinnati 2021 College Basketball, week 14, is broadcasted on ESPN3.
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