Cincinnati Falls to Minnesota After Late Scoring Run

Cincinnati’s first loss under coach Jerrod Calhoun came on November 9, when Minnesota edged the Bearcats 63-61 at Fifth Third Arena. The game was tight throughout, but the Golden Gophers closed with a 9-0 run and secured the win with a late shot.

Tylen Riley led Cincinnati with 25 points, making six of the team’s seven three-pointers. The Bearcats shot 41.1% overall and made just one three from players other than Riley. They also struggled at the free-throw line, converting eight of 12 attempts in the closing foul exchanges.

Minnesota had a 40-28 rebounding advantage, helping it stay in contention despite shooting 43% from the field. Cincinnati’s defense kept the visitors from pulling away, but the Bearcats’ shooting and rebounding shortfalls proved costly. Tyler Tejada also stood out for his work on both ends, though turnovers remain an area to address.

Cincinnati used 12 players for significant minutes as Calhoun continues to assess combinations. The team’s next test is a road game at Dayton on November 14, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.