BYU lost to Cincinnati 90-68 in a road basketball game at Fifth Third Arena on Tuesday night. The Bearcats led for most of the contest and maintained control with strong shooting and defense.
“My message to the guys is that I believe in our group,” head coach Kevin Young said. “Less than two weeks ago, we beat Iowa State, who is one of the best teams in the country. I think our confidence is shook as a group right now, and I just want our guys to play with a little more belief in themselves and each other.”
Cincinnati shot 50 percent from the field while BYU made 41.4 percent of its attempts. The Bearcats hit 10 three-pointers, recorded 10 steals, and blocked six shots.
AJ Dybantsa led BYU with 23 points, six assists, and six rebounds. He also became only the third freshman in program history to play over 1,000 minutes in a single season. Robert Wright III scored 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while Aleksej Kostic added 14 points and made four three-pointers.
In the first half, Kennard Davis Jr. opened scoring for BYU but Cincinnati quickly responded with outside shooting to take an early lead. Turnovers hurt BYU throughout the game; by halftime Cincinnati had scored ten points off Cougars turnovers and led 43-31.
After halftime, Wright III hit a three-pointer for BYU but Cincinnati continued to extend its advantage behind defensive stops and efficient offense. Despite efforts from Dybantsa and Kostic, BYU could not close the gap as Cincinnati capitalized on turnovers and consistent scoring.
The Cougars will finish their regular season at home against No. 10 Texas Tech on Saturday, March 7 at 8:30 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and available for radio listeners through BYU Radio.
