CINCINNATI - Deonta Vaughn scored 16 points, handed out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds, leading the University of Cincinnati (19-5, 7-11 BIG EAST) to a 76-62 victory over visiting Weber State (20-11, 13-3 Big Sky) in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday evening. Vaughn became the school's all-time assist leader with his first dish of the game, passing Eddie Lee (1976-80), and became the career leader in 3-pointers made when he landed a long-range jumper with 18:14 on the clock in the second half, passing Darnell Burton (1993-97). Vaughn now has 309 career three-pointers and 507 career assists.
Cincinnati won the tip and went to work, hitting back-to-back three pointers. Weber State used a 10-3 run to take a 10-9 lead with 12:41 to go in the half. UC regained the lead after Yancy Gates found Ibrahima Thomas in the paint and he finished with a one-step dunk. The dunk, at 10:29 of the half, was UC's first basket from the floor that was not a 3-pointer.
The Bearcats took a six-point lead after Jaquon Parker got a steal and converted a 3-point play, but the Wildcats stuck around, using a 9-4 run to pull within one, 20-19, with 6:47 on the clock. Cincinnati continued to apply full court pressure and used a 20-6 run to close out the half and go to the locker room with a 40-25 advantage. The Bearcats finished the half with 22 points off of turnovers and was 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
Weber State scored first in the second half but Vaughn landed a three for the Bearcats, becoming the school's all-time leader in 3-pointers made. Wilks had a huge block in transition, and then took a cross-court alley-oop pass from Lance Stephenson, throwing it down and getting fouled. Cincinnati led, 54-34, before Weber State went on a 16-4 run to pull within eight, 59-51. Parker hit a triple but the Wildcats answered and pulled within eight again, trailing 63-55 with 5:21 left in the game. The Bearcats ended the game on a 13-7 run, winning 76-62.
Cincinnati forced 23 turnovers by Weber State and scored 28 points off of turnovers. The Bearcats were 15-of-16 from the free throw line and had 21 assists for the game. Stephenson finished with 14 points for UC while Damian Lillard had a game-high 26 points for Weber State.
Cincinnati, a No. 2 seed in the "Illinois" bracket of the tournament, will play No. 3-seed Dayton in the second round of the NIT. Dayton defeated Illinois State in the first round, 63-42.
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