Did Cincinnati Bearcats' Second Half Struggles Cost Them Against West Virginia Mountaineers?

The Cincinnati Bearcats faced a challenging matchup against the West Virginia Mountaineers, ending with a 59-54 result. The Bearcats now hold a record of 0-1, while the Mountaineers improve to 1-0. The game was held at Fifth Third Arena and witnessed an attendance of 10,215 fans.

First Half

The first half saw the Bearcats taking an early lead with strong performances from Jizzle James and Baba Miller. James contributed significantly with his scoring ability, while Miller's defensive prowess was evident through his three blocks. The Cats managed to secure a 30-20 lead by halftime, showcasing their effective field goal percentage of 43 percent.

Second Half

In the second half, however, things took a turn for Cincy as they struggled to maintain their momentum. Despite Jalen Celestine's efforts on both ends of the court—grabbing rebounds and providing assists—the team couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. Their shooting percentage dropped to just 36 percent overall.

Final Outcome

The Mountaineers capitalized on this shift in momentum during the latter stages of play by outscoring Cincy significantly in points off turnovers and fast break points. WVU's bench also played a crucial role by adding valuable points when needed most.

As part of our post game analysis: what went wrong for Cincinnati Bearcats? It appears that missed shots combined with turnovers allowed WVU back into contention late in proceedings—a factor which ultimately led them towards victory despite trailing earlier on.

Looking ahead: Fans can catch more action when Cincy hosts UCF Knights at Fifth Third Arena scheduled for February 8th at 2:00 PM EST; tune into CBS Sports Network if you cannot attend live!

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