KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The #8 Kansas Jayhawks (20-7) were beaten by the Cincinnati Bearcats (15-12) at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday, due in large part to the battle beyond the three-point line.
The Jayhawks shot just 22.2% from the arc, bested by Cincinnati’s 38.7% and leading to a 84-68 blowout at home for KU. The final score doesn’t show that KU kept it close in the first half, though, trailing by just two at the break.
However, a 48-point second half from the Bearcats proved to be far too much for the 10.5-point favorite Jayhawks’ defeat.
While another tally in the loss column is never a good thing, Kansas big man Flory Bidunga continued his solid stretch of play with 18 points on 80% shooting. Darryn Peterson saw extended minutes as well, racking up 17 points, but shooting just one-for-seven from three.
That one three-pointer was one of just two made shots from the arc by KU starters; Tre White had the other on three attempts. Two other threes came from the bench, and at the end of the game, KU had shot just 4/18 from three compared to Cincinnati’s 12/31.
Moustapha Thiam, the Bearcats’ center, led the way from Cincinnati with an efficient 28 points and eight boards. Baba Miller recorded 18 points, seven boards and eight assists and Jalen Celestine racked up 14 points and another eight rebounds.
The Jayhawks will face the #2-ranked University of Houston Cougars on Monday, attempting to avoid the first back-to-back losses at home in the Bill Self era. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
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