Most of the 3,484 fans who showed up at Fifth Third Arena for the University of CincinnatiÂ’s first exhibition game Tuesday night probably were eager to see the newcomers in action for the first time.
But for UC coach Mick Cronin, the night was all about re-establishing the defensive tone that served the Bearcats so well last season.
He wasnÂ’t disappointed.
Dion Dixon scored 20 points and the Bearcats overcame a sluggish start to beat McGill University, 75-41, dominating the second half with their defensive pressure.
The Bearcats forced 24 turnovers, blocked 10 shots and held McGill to 31.4 percent shooting. McGill scored only 18 points in the second half.
“Once our guys adjusted, the last 30 minutes of the game, our defense was excellent,” Cronin said. “That was my big focus.”
No. 21 UC played without junior college transfer Cheikh Mbdoj, whoÂ’s nursing a sore right ankle and was wearing a protective boot on the bench.
The way Cronin talked after the game it might be awhile before Mbodj plays.
“Before anyone asks, I’m not sure how long he’s going to be out,” Cronin said. “Mbodj will not play until he’s 100 percent. It’s a long season. We’ve got a very good team, a chance to be a great team when he’s with us.
“Whenever he’s back will be when I see him run up and down the floor and not limp, with no pain. He’s got to get cleared by doctors and then he’s got to get cleared by me.”
Mbodj sprained his ankle the first week of practice, recovered from that and then twisted it again when he stepped on JaQuon ParkerÂ’s foot late last week in practice.
In the first half, the Bearcats looked like a team trying to incorporate six new players, except that none of the six were in the game in the early going when UC played its worst, falling behind, 8-1.
The Bearcats didnÂ’t make their first field goal until Sean Kilpatrick made a driving lay-up with just over four minutes elapsed.
Eventually, though, the BearcatsÂ’ superior size and athleticism took their toll in the person of Yancy Gates, who scored 13 points in the first half to enable UC to lead, 28-23, at halftime.
Gates finished with 19 points and nine rebounds.
“It just took time for us to really gel together,” said point guard Cashmere Wright, who scored 14 points with five assists. “We had more pressure on defense and defense translates into offense.”
The Bearcats hit their stride at the start of the second half, outscoring McGill, 13-2, with Dixon scoring seven points. Dixon made 7 of 10 shots and was perfect in five tries from the free throw line.
The highlight of the game occurred with 12:58 remaining when Gates had the ball in transition apparently on the way to an uncontested dunk. But instead of dunking the ball, he lobbed it off the backboard for a trailing Dixon, who slammed it home and then converted a 3-point play after he was fouled.
“I was going in and I heard somebody go, ‘backboard,’ behind me,” Gates said. “Dion can jump. We were winning. I figure if he catches it Cronin wouldn’t be too mad.”
None of the five freshmen who played stood out, with guard GeÂ’Lawn Guyn scoring five points.
“They’re going to be all right,” Gates said. “They had some good moments and they had their freshman moments. But they’re going to be all right.”
The Bearcats play their second exhibition game next Tuesday against Northern Kentucky at Fifth Third Arena.
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