Three Man Weave: Cincinnati Takes Care of Tennessee Tech 76-67

The Bearcats finished non-conference play 10-3.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Dec 22, 2021 6:14 AM EST

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3) let Tennessee Tech (3-10) hang around, but they got the job done 76-67 in the final non-conference game of the season.

Mike Saunders (15 points, two rebounds, one assist), Jeremiah Davenport (11 points, seven rebounds, two assists), Hayden Koval (nine points, one rebound, one assist), and Mika Adams-Woods (11 points, one rebound, four assists) led the way in another balanced effort from Wes Miller's team. A total of 11 Bearcats scored in the game.

"Happy to get a win, and happy to get these guys home for Christmas," Bearcats head coach Wes Miller said. "They probably need a break from me. Cause I expect certain type of approach and mentality every day. The truth is the guys have been really trying. They are trying to give it to us and do it right. Trying to do the things we ask and it’s probably never enough for me. And it’ll never be enough because I will always want more. So they probably need a three to four day break to me to enjoy Christmas. Be healthy, mentally for everybody. If I had my way, I’d probably wish we were practicing tomorrow and I would sacrifice Christmas to get better. Happy for our team that they are able to get home.”

Cincinnati had its ups and downs throughout the non-conference slate but is well-positioned for the start of AAC play. Let's dive into the Three Man Weave from another win at Fifth Third Arena.

UC Brings The Physicality

The Bearcats seemingly went through the motions in Saturday's 71-57 victory over Ashland University. Tuesday was a much more spirited effort from the first tip.

Cincinnati shot the ball decently (44.3%) but got the Golden Eagles into foul trouble early and swarmed TTU with depth. They found a nice groove working the ball inside out to get open looks for three, although that largely went out the window in the second half.

TTU just never had an answer for Cincinnati's relentless pressure on offensive rebounds. UC cleaned up in that metric 13-5 and outrebounded the Golden Eagles 36-31. Pairing that energy on the glass with energy in passing lanes (16-9 turnover differential) proved to be a winning formula.

They needed every one of the boards as TTU finished the game shooting 48.1% and 41.2% from deep. Second-chance points crushed the Golden Eagles' hopes. Cincinnati outscored them in that department 16-2.

Mika Adams-Woods: Calm, Cool, Collected

When Cincinnati needed someone to settle things down and get back into sound offensive sets, Adams-Woods got the call. The junior came into the contest with the fourth-best A/TO ratio (4.78) in the country and kept it up on Tuesday.

He had a team-high four assists and didn't commit a turnover. When things tightened to a four-point lead midway through the second half, Adams-Woods was there to hit a timely three and find the right entry on multiple possessions.

Adams-Woods was part of a great overall showing from the Bearcats backcourt. Davenport and Saunders attacked the rim relentlessly, and the latter was in timely spots for putbacks. Each contributed to Cincinnati's 7-for-9 night from the free-throw line.

The leading trio all scored in double-figures while A.J. McGinnis (five points, one rebound, one assist) and John Newman III (nine points, four rebounds, three assists) added a few needed triples.

Diarra Back At Fifth Third Arena

Mamoudou Diarra made his return to Cincinnati after transferring out of the program this past offseason. The forward got a warm welcome from the home crowd during intros and took the heat onto the floor.

He hit a pair of triples in the first half and finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and one assist.

Diarra was a four-year letter winner with the Bearcats and is fitting in nicely with the Golden Eagles. He showed a decent stroke from outside (3-for-7) and was TTU's leading rebounder in the homecoming affair.

“I only had a chance to meet Mamoudou Diarra once when I got the job here. And I just thought he was a terrific young man," Miller said. "I wish he wouldn’t have played so well for our defense tonight, but for somebody who invested in this program, invest a lot of time here, and was really well liked by everybody he touched that is one thing that is obvious that speaks to his character. For him to come in here, to have a really good night, and to shoot the ball well.”

Cincinnati has a week off before facing No. 13 Houston next Tuesday on the road. The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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