UC basketball sends their seniors off with win No. 20 over SMU's Mustangs

For the first time in three years, the Cincinnati Bearcats have a 20-win season on their resumé.

On an afternoon when the University of Cincinnati honored David DeJulius, Kalu Ezikpe and Rob Phinisee on Senior Day, the basketball Bearcats bounced SMU 97-74. It was their highest-scoring game of the AAC portion of their season. The players gathered at center court and waved to the 11,068 fans in attendance afterward,

DeJulius had a career-high 30 points in what could be his final game at Fifth Third Arena. He added six assists and received a standing ovation after he hit his final 3-pointer. He finished making 11 of his 18 shots with none sweeter than the last with 1:50 on the clock.

"There's no amount of money you could have that would replicate that moment right there," DeJulius said. "It's such a special place in Cincinnati, Fifth Third Arena, the best arena in the world, surrounded by great teammates and coaches that allow me to be in the position I'm in right now. When I'm old at the end of my life, I'm going to hold that moment right there high for sure."

Also in double figures was Landers Nolley II with 24 points, Jeremiah Davenport with 12 and Mika Adams-Woods with 11.

It was the fifth time this season the Bearcats surpassed 90 points, but the first of 2023. It was the 21st straight game in double figures for redshirt senior Nolley who was celebrating his 23rd birthday. Nolley was non-committal on whether he would return for the same treatment next year but enjoyed his day with DeJulius.

"It's crazy we only got to play together for one year," Nolley said. "Seeing him go to work. It was an honor for me to witness that, I'm not going to lie. To have someone like him to push you every day, texting you to keep you up when you're going through hard times, it's amazing! He pushed me to be a better man on and off the court."

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A first in the Miller era

UC last won 20 games back on March 7, 2020, with a Senior Day win over Temple. It's Wes Miller's first 20-win season with the Bearcats. At UNC-Greensboro, Miller had five straight seasons of 20 or more wins from 2016-21.

"It's progress, I said that to our team and our staff," Miller said. "It doesn't mean we're going to stop, but I do think it's something. I am proud of that."

Miller reported to his press conference freshly showered and in a black Bearcat long-sleeve shirt. His white shirt and tie were doused in the team's post-game celebration in the locker room.

DeJulius sinks his first and last shots

As if by script, DeJulius canned his opening 3-pointer 20 seconds into the game. After 27 more points, the crowd erupted as he walked off the court after Miller substituted Justin Reed.

"I'm not knocking the guys that leave, but at Cincinnati, we're going to celebrate the guys that stay around and play their last game of eligibility at home, at Cincinnati," Miller said. "He (DeJulius) could have left during the transition a couple of years ago. He was an all-league guy last year and could have left. He stuck with Cincinnati we he didn't have to and had other options. He loves this place. He's invested. We're going to celebrate the heck out of those guys going forward. You build programs with guys like that."

After scoring just 54 points in their road win over SMU Jan. 14, the Bearcats came close to doubling the effort. They are now 13-2 when scoring 80 or more points.

"I'm glad I was here for these three years during this pivotal change," DeJulius said. "I pride myself not only in being a good player but leaving the program better than where I found it."

Senior Day starters

Ezikpe would get the Senior Day start with Vikter Lakhin appearing two and a half minutes later. But Lakhin, who had eight blocks at SMU, got in early foul trouble and had to return to the bench. Ody Oguama would also pick up a second foul just after the 10-minute mark.

In the meantime, Ezikpe took a hard foul from SMU's Ricardo Wright, then later was shoved by Efe Odigie who received a technical foul DeJulius sank both free throws putting the Bearcats up 34-22 with 5:33 left in the half. UC was able to separate by having the hot hand from deep, finishing 9-of-17 on 3-pointers at halftime.

The Bearcats outscored SMU 26-14 over the final 10 minutes of the half and the 51 points at intermission were the most they had scored since the season opener against Chaminade when they posted 54 in an eventual 98-55 win. Their highest-scoring half came in the Maui Invitational when they scored 63 in the second half against then-No. 2 Arizona, losing 101-93.

UC is now 19-4 when leading at halftime.

The second half looked familiar to the first as Oguama and Lakhin quickly picked up their third fouls and Ezikpe was again summoned for duty. Like the first half, DeJulius opened up the UC scoring with a jumper and quickly added another within 30 seconds. Nolley's driving lay-up moved the advantage to 19 points at the 16:05 mark.

SMU cut the lead to 13, but the Bearcats kept finding an answer. Lakhin, held scoreless in the first half, had three consecutive buckets to push UC back up by 18 with 7:17 left, 78-60. The Bearcats kept pushing and finished with a 23-point triumph to start the month of March.

Lakhin scored all eight of his points in the second half and led the Bearcats in rebounding with six, despite playing less than 20 minutes. Despite the foul issues, the Bearcats outrebounded SMU 35-32. They are 17-2 when leading in that category.

See you in Fort Worth

UC finishes the season 20-11 (11-7 AAC) and now advances to the AAC tournament where they will play Temple in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game on Friday. UC is the No. 4 seed, Temple the No. 5. The game is set for Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Friday at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

An AAC tournament win Friday would put them in Saturday's semifinal, likely against the No. 1 seed Houston. The Bearcats split with Temple during the season with each team winning on its home floor.

SMU's season finishes at 10-21 (5-13 AAC). Zhuric Phelps led the Mustangs with 17 points.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Senior Day at UC sees Bearcats reach 20 win mark with victory over SMU