No. 14 Cincinnati aims to get back on track against Howard
No. 14 Cincinnati returns to campus Sunday as they look to rebound from their first loss of the season against visiting Howard. Cincinnati (6-1) suffered a setback, losing 68-60 at Villanova on Tuesday as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. The Bearcats started the game strong, scoring the first basket, but that was their only lead as they struggled offensively, shooting a season-low 38.3 percent (23 of 60) from the field. Villanova, in contrast, shot 48.9 percent (23 of 47), marking the highest shooting percentage Cincinnati has allowed this season, including an alarming 54.2 percent (13 of 24) in the first half.
“I didn’t like us defensively in the first half at all,” Cincinnati coach Wes Miller stated after the game. “I didn’t think we carried over our game plan or did the things well that we value.”
Leading the Bearcats in scoring was Jizzle James, son of former NFL star running back Edgerrin James, who tallied 19 points. This sophomore guard is currently averaging 14.6 points per game, making him the second-leading scorer on the team behind Simas Lukosius, who averages 16 points. Both players are also among the top 40 in the nation for assist-to-turnover ratio, with Lukosius at 3.6 and James at 3.3.
Cincinnati is also dealing with the absence of Dan Skillings Jr., who underwent knee surgery last month. Skillings played in only the season opener, where he achieved an impressive 17 points and 11 rebounds against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but faced complications afterward as his knee swelled.
Despite the loss to Villanova, the Bearcats still rank among the top defensive teams in the nation, allowing only 57.7 points per game—currently the fifth-lowest average in the country. Offensively, their 51.5 percent shooting percentage ranks seventh nationally.
On the other side of the court, Howard (3-5) is experiencing its own challenges, having lost three consecutive games and coming off a week-long break. The Bison last played on Nov. 30, falling short 79-75 to Mount St. Mary’s in a game where Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year Bryce Harris was sidelined. Harris had limited play, appearing for just two minutes in Howard’s loss against Maryland-Baltimore County on Nov. 25.
Marcus Dockery, a senior guard, leads the Bison with an average of 14.4 points per game, shooting an efficient 47.4 percent from the floor and an impressive 44.4 percent from the 3-point line. Additionally, freshman guard Blake Harper has stepped up, contributing 13.9 points per game. Harper has already earned the conference’s Rookie of the Week honor four times this season, averaging 17.5 points in his last two games and scoring 16 in Howard’s season opener at Kansas. He is currently a top contender within the conference, ranking among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.
Cincinnati is yet again facing a significant matchup as Howard represents the latest major conference opponent on their schedule. Earlier this season, the Bison faced tough competition, losing by 30 points to Kansas on Nov. 4 and then falling 77-62 at Missouri on Nov. 8. As two-time defending MEAC tournament champions, Howard was picked to win the title again this year. Coach Kenny Blakeney has mentioned the importance of scheduling power conference teams, believing that these challenges will help his squad prepare for the MEAC tournament.
“I think those games are really important, and especially early on,” Blakeney noted. “If we can figure out and find out some of the answers on our team, sooner than later, we’re able to work on those things and get better throughout the year.”
