The Bearcats advanced to the quarter finals of the National Invitation Tournament with a convincing 76-62 win over Minnesota at home Tuesday, March 21. Next up, UC hosts South Carolina at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 23. The winner will move on to the NIT’s Final Four at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Photos by Andrew Higley
James White was UC’s second-leading scorer with 17 points. The Bearcats shot 49 percent for the game.
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Senior Eric Hicks has tallied 46 points, 29 rebounds and seven blocks over UC’s two NIT contests. Hicks completed his 14th double-double of the season Tuesday with 23 points and 11 boards.
The Bearcat outdished the Gophers 21 to eight Tuesday, with point guard Devan Downey recording nine assists.
Hicks now has 110 blocks on the season, surpassing Kenyon Martin’s previous high of 107. Hicks’ 253 career rejections moves him into second place behind Martin (292) and one past blocking sensation Jason Maxiell.
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Freshman footballer Connor Barwin played 12 minutes for the Bearcats contributing two points, four rebounds and one steal.
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Trailing 11-5 early, UC surged ahead for good with an impressive run sparked by senior Chadd Moore, who returned after missing last week’s game with a sore back.
A spirited 5,651 showed up to support the Bearcats for the 9 p.m. ESPN game.