CINCINNATI — The No. 14 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats secured an 84-67 win over Howard on Sunday, led by impressive performances from Simas Lukosius, who scored 18 points, Aziz Bandaogo with 17 points, and Dillon Mitchell, who contributed 14 points.
Cincinnati improved its record to 7-1 with this victory. After holding a slim four-point lead at halftime, the team came out strong in the second half, quickly increasing their advantage to 10 points by hitting three consecutive baskets. The Bearcats dominated the second half, outscoring the Howard Bison 48-35, effectively bouncing back from their previous loss to Villanova by eight points.
For Howard, Blake Harper recorded an impressive double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcus Dockery added 14 points to the effort. Despite the loss, the Bison demonstrated strong performances from their scoring guards, though it marked their sixth defeat in nine games.
In terms of individual performances for Cincinnati, Lukosius stood out by shooting 7-for-10 overall and making 3-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc, demonstrating his scoring efficiency.
A significant moment in the game was the return of Dan Skillings Jr., a third-year guard for the Bearcats. He played his first game since suffering a knee injury in the season opener on November 4, contributing two points, three rebounds, and three assists in 14 minutes of play. This marked a welcome return for the team.
Another notable statistic was Cincinnati’s dominance on the boards, outperforming Howard in total rebounds 37-23 and 14-5 on the offensive glass, highlighting their strong rebounding strategy.
Looking ahead, Howard will face Virginia-Lynchburg at home on Wednesday, while Cincinnati is set to host rival Xavier on Saturday, promising to be an exciting matchup.
