Barring a superhuman effort by Cleveland State, the No. 20-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats figured to post a runaway victory Thursday night.
UC was a 28-point favorite entering the game, but instead ran into a CSU team that indeed played magnificent basketball. For about 35 minutes, anyway. The Vikings shot 68.4 percent from the field in the first half and kept it close most of the night, but UC shot rather well itself and posted an 81-62 win. A crowd of 7,988 watched at Northern Kentucky University's BB&T Arena.
UC (11-2) was led by senior forward Gary Clark with 18 points and five rebounds.