The No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats played their second round National Invitation Tournament game at Hofstra University due to scheduled floor replacement work at their home arena, Fifth Third Arena. Despite playing away, the Bearcats secured a 79-65 victory, ending Hofstra's season and advancing to the NIT quarterfinals. Hofstra suffered just their second home loss of the season, having previously defeated the No. 1 seed Rutgers in overtime. The Bearcats had five players scoring in double figures, with Ody Oguama recording a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. Hofstra's Aaron Estrada led his team with 18 points. The Bearcats will face the winner of the game between No. 3 seed Colorado and Utah Valley in the NIT quarterfinals, which will be held on Tuesday or Wednesday. As Fifth Third Arena will still be unavailable, the Bearcats will once again play away from home.
The Bearcats' victory over Hofstra was an impressive one, especially considering the challenging circumstances of playing away from home. They will undoubtedly be looking to build on their success as they prepare for their upcoming NIT quarterfinals matchup.
Their opponents will be either No. 3 seed Colorado or Utah Valley, both of whom have shown their mettle in the tournament so far. Colorado defeated Seton Hall in the first round, while Utah Valley upset No. 2 seed New Mexico. It promises to be an intriguing matchup, and the Bearcats will need to be at their best if they hope to advance to the next round.
Despite the inconvenience of playing away from home once again, the Bearcats will be determined to overcome their opponents and secure a place in the NIT semifinals. Their performance against Hofstra showed that they have the talent and resilience to succeed in difficult circumstances, and they will be hoping to maintain that momentum as they continue their postseason campaign.
