The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team pulled off a thrilling 81-72 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Wednesday night in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). It was a closely contested game, with 13 lead changes and 11 ties before Cincinnati was able to pull away in the second half.
Senior wing Jeremiah Davenport was the hero of the game for the Bearcats, banking in a crucial 3-pointer with just over five minutes left in the game to break a 63-63 tie. Graduate guard David DeJulius also had an outstanding performance, scoring 21 points and dishing out seven assists.
Redshirt senior Landers Nolley had a special night, as he notched a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds against the team with whom he began his college career. The win improved Cincinnati's record to 22-12 on the season, and the Bearcats have now won seven-straight games against ACC teams, including a perfect 2-0 record this year.
The victory also had history on its side as it marked the first meeting with Virginia Tech since 1991, after the two teams played against each other 30 times as Metro Conference rivals. The Bearcats' win over the Hokies also sets up a second-round matchup against Hofstra on Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Bearcats will be looking to continue their strong performance and advance to the next round of the NIT. With DeJulius and Nolley leading the way, and Davenport coming up clutch when it mattered most, Cincinnati fans have reason to be optimistic about their team's chances.
