UC Bearcats, Ohio State Buckeyes hold pep rally at Princeton
UC Bearcats, Ohio State Buckeyes hold pep rally at Princeton High School
Homecoming festivities at the University of Cincinnati began Friday evening as two in-state teams that hadn’t met since 2019 tipped off in the CareSource Charity Classic basketball event.
Those supporting the cause were treated to an entertaining and athletic night as the Cincinnati Bearcats pulled away from Ohio State early and notched the 80-62 win.
New forward Dillon Mitchell was a presence all night, making all six of his shots, including several dunks. Mitchell had 12 points and seven rebounds. Simas Lukošius also had 12 points while Day Day Thomas added 11.
Seven Bearcats rang up 3-pointers with Jizzle James, Josh Reed and Lukošius all making a pair.
Micah Parrish and Meechie Johnson Jr. led Ohio State with 11 points each. The Bearcats outrebounded the Buckeyes 38-21.
UC’s win doesn’t count, but it’s been a while
For the Cincinnati Bearcats, they were meeting Ohio State for the first time since the beginning of the 2019 season and looking for their first win over the Buckeyes since the second of two NCAA titles were won March 24, 1962.
Any UC fan that goes back that far at least left the game with a little grin.
What’s the meaning of an exhibition win?
It always feels nice to emerge victorious, but it loses its luster when it doesn’t count. In Mick Cronin’s final year, UC traveled to Canada for some exhibitions and lost to Carleton 86-67. They rebounded to win the American Athletic Conference tournament and the NCAA tournament, finishing 28-7. More famously, the 1991-92 Final Four team coached by Bob Huggins, blew a lead and lost to Athletes In Action before going 29-5 with the last loss in the Metrodome against Michigan’s Fab Five.
For UC, wins are more important starting Monday, Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and even more important in the Big 12 starting Dec. 30 in Manhattan, Kansas against Kansas State.
Ohio State also begins for real Nov. 4 in Las Vegas against the Texas Longhorns. A month later, Dec. 4, their Big Ten slate begins at Maryland.
5 takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats/Ohio State Buckeyes exhibition
1. There are a lot of options
Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell, Simas Lukošius, Aziz Bandaogo, Dan Skillings Jr. and Jizzle James started for UC as Miller lived up to his thoughts of playing four “wings” with one post player. Less than seven minutes into the game UC led 18-6 after a Mitchell dunk and Miller inserted a new five after a Buckeye timeout.
In the second half, Miller started Bandaogo, Skillings, Day Day Thomas, C.J. Fredrick and Tyler Betsey. The purpose was for different looks. Most of the looks looked good as UC never trailed.
2. The long arms of the law
Length is a great luxury on this team, not so much in height but in wingspan. While Bandaogo might not be a dominant force, he is still a 7-foot windmill ready to slap shots. The addition of Mitchell should be of major help in rebounding, shot-changing and dunking with authority. Then there’s Skillings at 6-foot-6 who Bearcats fans know has a wingspan surpassing seven feet.
With those three starting plus a 6-foot-8 shooting guard in Lukošius, the Bearcats should be in good shape most games barring foul trouble.
3. Notable long-range buckets
Though he’s certainly shot plenty of times on Fifth Third Arena rims, Rayvon Griffith made his presence known by knocking down a 3-pointer on his first shot of the season. Griffith is a redshirt freshman who later added a crowd-pleasing dunk. True freshman Tyler Betsey, who chose UC over Alabama and Connecticut, also popped in a 3-pointer for his first Bearcat bucket. USC transfer Arrinten Page had a nice baby hook for his first score.
4. Familiar faces on the floor
UC heavily pursued Duke 6-foot-9 forward Sean Stewart who ventured north to the Buckeyes. Stewart and Micah Parrish led Ohio State at halftime with seven points each.
Former Moeller High School 6-foot-6 wing Evan Mahaffey, whose career started at Penn State, is in his second season with Ohio State where he made 35 starts last season. He started the scrimmage Friday but did not score.
5. Sitting out
UC 6-foot-9 freshman Tyler McKinley is on crutches and will miss the year with a knee injury as reported last month. McKinley was still in good spirits. By all indications, he was a force this summer and would have played. With the Bearcats’ length, it’s scary to think what it would have been with a healthy McKinley.
Ohio State’s 7-foot-1 center Aaron Bradshaw, a Kentucky transfer, did not suit up for the Buckeyes. His presence likely would have been of note in this contest.
A name from the past
Jalan Wingfield, a four-star 2026 power forward from Atlanta, is visiting the Bearcats this weekend. He is listed at 6-foot-8, 225 pounds and has double-digit college offers. His father, Dontonio Wingfield, played one season for the Bearcats in 1993-94 averaging 16 points and nine rebounds. Wingfield came to UC a Parade All-American and was 6-foot-8 and 256 pounds. In his first-ever game, he scored 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a win over Butler. The elder Wingfield played for Seattle and Portland in the NBA, leaving the Bob Huggins Bearcats after one season.
Purpose of the CareSource Charity Classic
The idea of the game begins with Dayton coach Anthony Grant who put it together to support mental health.
Net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit mental health providers and charities within each school’s footprint, along with Jay’s Light, an organization begun by Grant and his wife, Chris, to help mothers, fathers, teens and young adults find resources for mental health struggles.
Dayton played Ohio State last year. This year Buckeyes coach Jake Diebler got involved and tried to have a doubleheader for the cause. Instead, it was UC and Ohio State Friday, with Xavier and Dayton playing Sunday.
Both teams start their seasons Nov. 4. UC is home with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Ohio State will be in Las Vegas the same night against Texas.
