Cincinnati Bearcats Defeat BYU Cougars 90-68
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Fifth Third Arena
Cincinnati Bearcats 90, BYU Cougars 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
Cincinnati Bearcats beat BYU Cougars 90-68 at Fifth Third Arena on March 3, 2026.
Who was favored in BYU Cougars vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
Cincinnati Bearcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -130 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Cincinnati Bearcats secured a commanding 90-68 victory over the BYU Cougars at Fifth Third Arena. This win highlights Cincinnati's strong performance at home, improving their record to 18-13, while BYU falls to 20-11. Cincinnati's recent form has been impressive, with a 6-4 record in their last ten games, including a current winning streak of one. They have averaged 73.8 points scored and 68.9 points allowed during this stretch. In their last five games, they have been particularly potent, averaging 80.6 points while allowing 68.6.
BYU, on the other hand, has struggled recently, with a 3-7 record in their last ten games and a losing streak of two. They have averaged 81.4 points scored but have been vulnerable defensively, allowing an average of 85.2 points. In their last five games, they averaged 78.4 points scored and 81.2 points allowed. This inconsistency has contributed to their recent struggles, particularly in away games, where they have a record of 1-4 in their last five.
Historically, the Bearcats and Cougars have faced each other twice in the 2025 season, splitting the series with each team winning one game. Cincinnati won the most recent encounter on February 8, 2025, with a score of 84-66 at home, while BYU claimed victory in their earlier meeting on January 26, 2025, winning 80-52.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams have had varying levels of player availability throughout the season, which could have influenced their performances. The odds for this matchup, as provided by DraftKings, had Cincinnati favored by 1.5 points, with a total set at 151.5. The moneyline odds indicated Cincinnati at -130 and BYU at +110, reflecting the competitive nature of the game.
Conditions at Fifth Third Arena were likely conducive to a strong home performance, as Cincinnati has shown resilience in front of their fans. Viewers should have watched for Cincinnati's offensive efficiency, particularly their ability to score from beyond the arc, as evidenced by multiple three-point plays in the second half, including a notable 24-foot jumper by Jizzle James that extended their lead. The Bearcats' ability to maintain pressure on BYU's defense was evident, with several scoring plays contributing to their significant lead as the game progressed.
Overall, Cincinnati's victory showcased their strengths at home and highlighted BYU's defensive vulnerabilities, setting the stage for an intriguing close to the season for both teams.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CIN -1.5 | 151.5 o -108 / u -112 | BYU Cougars +110 · Cincinnati Bearcats -130 |
Leaders
- PointsJalen Celestine18Cincinnati Bearcats
- AssistsDay Day Thomas6Cincinnati Bearcats
- ReboundsBaba Miller12Cincinnati Bearcats
- PointsAJ Dybantsa23BYU Cougars
- AssistsAJ Dybantsa6BYU Cougars
- ReboundsKeba Keita7BYU Cougars
Recent form
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last 10: 6-4Streak W173.8 scored · 68.9 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W91-68vs Oklahoma State CowboysFeb 28
- L68-80at Texas Tech Red RaidersFeb 25
- W84-68at Kansas JayhawksFeb 21
- W69-65vs Utah UtesFeb 15
- W91-62at Kansas State WildcatsFeb 12
- W92-72vs UCF KnightsFeb 8
- L54-59vs West Virginia MountaineersFeb 6
- L54-76at Houston CougarsJan 31
- W67-57vs Baylor BearsJan 28
- L68-82at Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 25
BYU Cougars
Last 10: 3-7Streak L281.4 scored · 85.2 allowed per game1-4 away
- L71-79at West Virginia MountaineersFeb 28
- L84-97vs UCF KnightsFeb 25
- W79-69vs Iowa State CyclonesFeb 22
- L68-75at Arizona WildcatsFeb 19
- W90-86vs Colorado BuffaloesFeb 14
- W99-94at Baylor BearsFeb 11
- L66-77vs Houston CougarsFeb 8
- L92-99at Oklahoma State CowboysFeb 5
- L82-90at Kansas JayhawksJan 31
- L83-86vs Arizona WildcatsJan 27
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | BYU Cougars | Cincinnati Bearcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-58 | 32-64 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 7-24 | 10-23 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 43 |
| Free throws | 13-19 | 16-22 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 26 |
| Assists | 8 | 24 |
| Steals | 2 | 10 |
| Blocks | 2 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 4 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 34 |
| Fouls | 17 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 24 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 6 | 93 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-50Baba Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-51Baba Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-52Jizzle James makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-53Jizzle James makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-53Robert Wright III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-53Robert Wright III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-55Moustapha Thiam makes 3-foot dunk (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half42-57Jalen Celestine makes 14-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half44-57Aleksej Kostic makes driving layup (Mihailo Boškovic assists)
- 2nd Half44-59Jizzle James makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half44-61Day Day Thomas makes 15-foot pullup jump shot (Moustapha Thiam assists)
- 2nd Half45-61AJ Dybantsa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-61AJ Dybantsa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-61AJ Dybantsa makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half48-64Jizzle James makes 25-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half48-66Keyshuan Tillery makes driving layup
- 2nd Half48-68Moustapha Thiam makes 4-foot hook shot (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half50-68Robert Wright III makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-69Moustapha Thiam makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-71Moustapha Thiam makes 2-foot dunk (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half53-71AJ Dybantsa makes 23-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half53-73Jalen Celestine makes layup (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half53-75Sencire Harris makes driving layup (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half53-77Moustapha Thiam makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half54-77AJ Dybantsa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-77AJ Dybantsa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-77Robert Wright III makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half57-78Day Day Thomas makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half57-79Day Day Thomas makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half57-80Day Day Thomas makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half58-80Robert Wright III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-80Robert Wright III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-80Robert Wright III makes layup
- 2nd Half61-83Jizzle James makes 24-foot three point jumper (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half61-85Baba Miller makes 2-foot dunk (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half63-85AJ Dybantsa makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-85Aleksej Kostic makes 24-foot three point jumper (AJ Dybantsa assists)
- 2nd Half66-88Jalen Celestine makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jizzle James assists)
- 2nd Half68-88Keba Keita makes layup
- 2nd Half68-90Sencire Harris makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Cincinnati Bearcats, below favours BYU Cougars.
Venue
- Fifth Third ArenaCincinnati, OH
- Attendance12012
- OfficialsJames Breeding, Tony Padilla, Tyler Kumpf
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- BYU Defeats Cincinnati in NCAAF ShowdownNov 22, 2025