Bearcats Get Season Off To Good Start

CINCINNATI - Freshman guard Sean Kilpatrick made the most of his debut wearing a University of Cincinnati basketball jersey, scoring 21 points off the bench to guide the Bearcats (1-0) to a 69-59 season-opening victory over Mount St. Mary's (0-2) on Monday night at Fifth Third Arena.

After a 5-0 run by The Mount in the early going, the Bearcats called a timeout and went on an 11-2 run over a 4:23 span to take an 18-11 lead with 11 minutes to go in the first stanza. Two minutes later, Kilpatrick and Yancy Gates put UC on their back and ran out the half with a 22-6 run for a 40-21 halftime advantage.

Kilpatrick scored 13 points, had two steals and an assist during that stretch and Gates, who finished the game with a 15-point, 10-rebound performance, scored six points and had three rebounds during the run.

Gates recorded the first UC double-double since Lance Stephenson scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds against DePaul on Feb. 24, 2010. Kilpatrick was 4-for-5 from the floor and 3-for-3 from long range helping UC to shoot 46 percent from the floor in the first half. The Bearcats had nine steals as a team (UC averaged 5.7 steals a game a year ago) and scored 16 points off of turnovers en route to the first half lead.

In the second half, UC struggled shooting from the floor, finishing 7-for-24. The Mountaineers didn't go away, using a 19-7 run starting at the 15:24 mark to pull within nine, 53-44. With 1:21 remaining and UC holding a 60-51 lead the Mountaineers scored three free throws, a layup and a 3-pointer to get as close as four, 62-58. Cincinnati spent the final minute of the game at the charity stripe, connecting on 7-of-8 and holding on for the 10 point victory.

Ibrahima Thomas scored nine points for UC and Rashad Bishop was 6-for-6 from the free throw line, finishing with eight points. Justin Jackson was scoreless for the game, but finished with four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and three steals in his freshman debut.

The Bearcats out-rebounded the Mountaineers, 38-33, and UC finished with 12 steals - the most steals Cincinnati has finished with in a game since 15 thefts against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Dec. 22, 2008 (79-49 victory).

Mount St. Mary's had three players score in double figures, led by Shawn Atupem's 14 points.

Cincinnati will play next on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. against IPFW at Fifth Third Arena.