BearcatReport – Bearcats slide past SMU 54-52

DALLAS (TBEN) — Landers Nolley II knocked down a 3-pointer with three-and-a-half minutes left to play and it turned out to be the game winner, as Cincinnati held on for a 54-52 victory over SMU on Saturday.

The Bearcats had a 54-49 lead, but failed to score again in the game and the Mustangs only managed a Stefan Todorovic 3 with 1:26 left.

Nolly finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Bearcats (13-6, 4-2 American Athletic Conference). Mika Adams-Woods added 16 points while shooting 6 for 9, including 4 for 7 from outside the arc, and also had four steals. Viktor Lakhin shot 3 of 9 from the field to finish with six points.

Zach Nutall led the way for the Mustangs (6-12, 1-4) with 13 points and three steals. Zhruic Phelps added 11 points and five steals for SMU. Efe Odigie also had 10 points.

Adams-Woods scored 10 points in the first half for Cincinnati, who led 29–27 at halftime. Cincinnati used an 8-0 run in the second half, coming back from a one-run deficit to take the lead at 37-30 with 17:25 left in the half before wrapping up the win. Nolley scored eight points in the second half.

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Both teams play on Wednesday. Cincinnati visits South Florida and SMU visits Tulsa.