By JOE KAY
Cincinnati’s Coreontae DeBerry (22) shoots past San Diego State’s Skylar Spencer in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Cincinnati Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Four days after losing a game in double overtime because they couldn’t make an open shot, the Bearcats fixed that problem.
Farad Cobb hit a 3-pointer that put Cincinnati in control in overtime, and the Bearcats pulled away to a 71-62 victory over No. 19 San Diego State on Wednesday night after letting a late lead slip away in regulation.
The Bearcats (7-2) were coming off a 56-55 double-overtime loss at Nebraska on Saturday night that underscored their season-long struggle to hit shots. Cobb made the one in overtime that made the difference and finished with 12 points, tied for the team high.
“We fought tough in Nebraska and went to overtime,” Cobb said. “In overtime tonight, we showed that we grew. I think it will carry on from there.”
San Diego State (7-3) lost for only the second time in its last 20 overtime games. Winston Shepard had a game-high 17 points, including a pair of free throws with 3.9 seconds left that tied it 57-all and sent it overtime. The Aztecs were outscored 14-5 in overtime.
“We’ve got to get better,” Shepard said. “We’ve been living off our hype from last year.”
Cincinnati is tough to beat at home, where it’s 24-1 since the start of the 2013-14 season. The only loss was to Louisville 58-57 last season.
“That’s how you stay in the game,” said Troy Caupain, who had 12 points but missed a free throw late in regulation. “We had the lead at the end, they forced it into overtime. We could have folded. I could have folded — I missed a free throw. But Farad hit a big-time bucket and the crowd stayed with us.”
The Bearcats got the better of a matchup of teams that rely on defense to pull out low-scoring games. Cincinnati came in ranked ninth nationally, allowing 52.8 points per game. San Diego State was 14th, giving up 55 points.
It played to form. The Bearcats were only 4 of 11 from beyond the 3-point arc, while the Aztecs were 5 of 25.
After Cincinnati’s second shot clock violation of the first half, Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson — sitting in the front row courtside — buried his face in his hands.
The Aztecs made 5 of 9 while pulling ahead 13-6 for their biggest lead of the game, with Cincinnati missing seven of its first 10 shots. The Bearcats went to a full-court press, forced back-to-back turnovers and brought the Aztecs’ offense to a halt.
San Diego State didn’t score over final 6 minutes, 20 seconds of the half, helping Cincinnati pull ahead 22-20.
There were four ties and five lead changes during the first 8 minutes of the second half. Shepard had a pair of free throws and a layup during an 11-4 run that put the Aztecs up 43-38.
Jermaine Sanders’ 3-pointer — only Cincinnati’s second 3 of the game — helped the Bearcats catch up. Cobb’s 3-pointer gave Cincinnati a 52-49 lead with 2:12 to go, matching its biggest lead of the game to that point.
CHOL OK
San Diego State’s Angelo Chol slipped while making a dunk in the second half, aggravating a left knee that has been troubling him. He went to the bench for treatment and returned. Coach Steve Fisher said the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.
LOT OF POINTS
The 71 points were the second-most allowed by the Aztecs this season. They beat BYU 92-87 in double overtime.
TIP-INS
San Diego State: Since the start of the 2010-11 season, San Diego State is 33-15 on the road, the third-best winning percentage in Division I. Only Wichita State and Kansas have better road winning percentages over that span. It was the Aztecs’ first game in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats had another game without a big offensive game by a player. Six players scored at least seven points.
UP NEXT
San Diego State opens a four-game homestand against Ball State on Saturday, followed by games against UC Riverside, San Diego Christian and Air Force in its Mountain West opener.
Cincinnati played the first of three home games in a seven-day span. The Bearcats host VCU on Saturday and Wagner on Tuesday.
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