Skillings, Newman combine for 40 points, Cincinnati pulls away in last 5 minutes to beat UCF 68-57

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John Newman III evens score with massive slam dunk

Day Day Thomas sets up John Newman III for a powerful one-handed slam against UCF.

Updated: Jan 28, 2024, 02:57 am

CINCINNATI -- — Dan Skillings Jr. scored 21 points, John Newman III added 19 and Cincinnati pulled away in the last five minutes to beat UCF 68-57 on Saturday night.

Newman's dunk tied the game 52-all with 5:15 remaining and sparked an 18-5 run to end it. Skillings and Newman each scored seven points during the stretch. The Bearcats shot 64% (14 of 22) from the floor and outscored UCF 41-18 in the second half.

Cincinnati (14-6, 3-4 Big 12), which entered having completed a six-game stretch against ranked teams, trailed UCF 39-27 at halftime. The Knights shot 52% in the first half but cooled to 21% (6 of 29) after the break.

Skillings was 8 of 14 from the floor and hit two 3-pointers for Cincinnati. Newman made 6 of 10 field goals and 7 of 9 free throws. They each grabbed seven of the Bearcats' 39 rebounds.

Jaylin Sellers and Marchelus Avery scored 19 points apiece to lead UCF (12-7, 3-4). Avery scored 16 points, Sellers added 12 and the pair combined for five 3-pointers in the first half.

UCF hosts No. 15 Baylor on Wednesday.

Cincinnati plays at West Virginia on Wednesday.

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