TROY CAUPAIN SCORED 23 POINTS, KYLE WASHINGTON ADDED 16 AND DEFENSIVE-MINDED CINCINNATI SHOT IT WAY PAST KANSAS STATE 75-61 FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE SOUTH REGION OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
CINCINNATI (30-5) WAS KNOCKED OUT THE FIRST ROUND A YEAR AGO AND NO. 6 SEEDS WERE 0-3 BEFORE THE BEARCATS TOOK THE FLOOR, WITH MARYLAND, CREIGHTON AND SMU ALL LOSING TO NO. 11 SEEDS.
THE BEARCATS TOOK CARE OF THEIR BUSINESS AND THE NO. 6 JINX WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SHOOTING DISPLAY, SHOOTING 62 PERCENT. CINCINNATI IS KNOWN FOR ITS DEFENSE AND DID THAT, TOO, PREVENTING KANSAS STATE (21-14) FROM MAKING MUCH OF A RUN AFTER BUILDING A 17-POINT LEAD.
THE BEARCATS NOW MOVE ON TO PLAY THE WINNER BETWEEN NO. 3 SEED UCLA AND NO. 14 KENT STATE ON SUNDAY.
WESLEY IWUNDU LED KANSAS STATE WITH 19 POINTS.