UC Bearcats close out UCF late for their fourth consecutive victory

Head coach John Brannen said playing in close games was a rite of passage at the University of Cincinnati.

After the Bearcats beat Temple on Friday, Brannen noted that he had coached 23 close games in two years with the Bearcats. UC hosted Central Florida at Fifth Third Arena on Sunday, and now that number reached 24.

It was the type of game the Bearcats didn’t finish early in the season. But on Sunday, UC beat UCF, 69-68

Last December, the Bearcats watched Xavier pull away at the end of the game and lost the Crosstown Shootout. One week later, the same thing happened to UC against Tennessee. And after that, the Bearcats lost four of their next six games by six points or fewer.

But lately, the…