West Virginia Edges Cincinnati in Close Contest
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Hope Coliseum
West Virginia Mountaineers 62, Cincinnati Bearcats 60, 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 Cincinnati Bearcats vs West Virginia Mountaineers?
West Virginia Mountaineers beat Cincinnati Bearcats 62-60 at Hope Coliseum on January 6, 2026.
In a thrilling matchup at Hope Coliseum, the West Virginia Mountaineers narrowly defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats with a final score of 62-60. This victory marks West Virginia's continued dominance over Cincinnati, having won all three of their previous encounters, including two earlier meetings in the 2025 season. The Mountaineers have proven to be a challenging opponent for the Bearcats, winning both past games by close margins of 62-59 and 63-50.
West Virginia entered the game with a home record of 10-5, and despite a recent mixed bag of results, they have managed to maintain a solid performance at home, holding a 5-1 record in their last six home games. Their recent form shows a record of 5-5 in their last ten games, with an average of 76.6 points scored and 64.7 points allowed. However, they were coming off a loss against the Iowa State Cyclones, which snapped a brief winning streak. In their last five games, they averaged 77.8 points while allowing 70.6.
On the other hand, Cincinnati, with an away record of 8-7, has struggled more recently, holding a record of 4-6 in their last ten games and currently on a one-game losing streak. They averaged 73.1 points scored and 67.4 points allowed during this stretch. Their last outing resulted in a loss to the Houston Cougars, where they scored 60 points against 67 allowed. Cincinnati's away performance has been less impressive, with an 0-3 record in their last three away games.
The odds for this matchup, provided by DraftKings, favored Cincinnati slightly with a spread of 1.5 points, indicating the Bearcats were expected to edge out the Mountaineers. The total points over/under was set at 132.5, reflecting expectations of a competitive scoring environment. The moneyline for both teams was listed at -110, suggesting an evenly matched contest.
In terms of player contributions, the game featured several key moments that defined its outcome. Moustapha Thiam made a crucial two-foot dunk to bring Cincinnati within five points, while Honor Huff's three-point jumper and subsequent free throws helped West Virginia maintain their lead. Treysen Eaglestaff also played a pivotal role, contributing both from the field and at the free-throw line, which ultimately secured the victory for the Mountaineers.
The conditions at Hope Coliseum were conducive to a competitive game, with both teams showing resilience and determination throughout. Fans witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads in the second half. The Mountaineers' ability to capitalize on free-throw opportunities in the closing moments proved decisive.
As the game concluded, West Virginia's win probability had reached 100%, solidifying their position in the matchup. The Mountaineers continue to showcase their strength at home, while Cincinnati will need to regroup and address their away performance as they move forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CIN -1.5 | 132.5 o -108 / u -112 | Cincinnati Bearcats -110 · West Virginia Mountaineers -110 |
Leaders
- PointsHonor Huff24West Virginia Mountaineers
- AssistsJasper Floyd3West Virginia Mountaineers
- ReboundsHonor Huff8West Virginia Mountaineers
- PointsJalen Celestine15Cincinnati Bearcats
- AssistsBaba Miller6Cincinnati Bearcats
- ReboundsBaba Miller7Cincinnati Bearcats
Recent form
West Virginia Mountaineers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L176.6 scored · 64.7 allowed per game5-1 at home
- L59-80at Iowa State CyclonesJan 3
- W86-51vs Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsDec 23
- L88-89at Ohio State BuckeyesDec 14
- W90-58vs Little Rock TrojansDec 10
- L66-75vs Wake Forest Demon DeaconsDec 6
- W91-49vs Coppin State EaglesDec 4
- W70-38vs Mercyhurst LakersNov 30
- L68-78at Xavier MusketeersNov 23
- L67-70at Clemson TigersNov 21
- W81-59vs Lafayette LeopardsNov 18
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last 10: 4-6Streak L173.1 scored · 67.4 allowed per game0-3 away
- L60-67vs Houston CougarsJan 3
- W89-62vs Lipscomb BisonsDec 30
- L65-68at Clemson TigersDec 21
- W88-51vs Alabama State HornetsDec 18
- L65-84at Georgia BulldogsDec 13
- L74-79at Xavier MusketeersDec 6
- W76-58vs Tarleton State TexansDec 2
- L56-64vs Eastern Michigan EaglesNov 27
- W94-67vs NJIT HighlandersNov 25
- L64-74vs Louisville CardinalsNov 21
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 | Cincinnati Bearcats | West Virginia Mountaineers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-62 | 22-48 |
| Field goal % | 35 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 12-35 | 11-23 |
| Three-point % | 34 | 48 |
| Free throws | 4-9 | 7-13 |
| Free throw % | 44 | 54 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 37 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 31 |
| Assists | 19 | 9 |
| Steals | 7 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 16 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 18 | 18 |
| Fouls | 15 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 13 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 13 | 79 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half11-22Honor Huff makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 1st Half14-22Day Day Thomas makes 27-foot three point jumper (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 1st Half16-22Tyler McKinley makes layup (Baba Miller assists)
- 1st Half19-22Jalen Celestine makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 1st Half19-25Honor Huff makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 1st Half22-25Jalen Celestine makes 24-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 1st Half24-25Jizzle James makes layup (Moustapha Thiam assists)
- 1st Half24-28Amir Jenkins makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 1st Half25-28Sencire Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half26-28Sencire Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half26-30Chance Moore makes driving layup
- 1st Half26-31Chance Moore makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Half28-31Tyler McKinley makes layup (Jizzle James assists)
- 2nd Half31-31Day Day Thomas makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half34-31Day Day Thomas makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sencire Harris assists)
- 2nd Half34-34Honor Huff makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half34-37DJ Thomas makes 25-foot three point jumper (Treysen Eaglestaff assists)
- 2nd Half36-37Tyler McKinley makes 3-foot dunk (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half36-39Brenen Lorient makes layup (DJ Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half36-41DJ Thomas makes layup (Treysen Eaglestaff assists)
- 2nd Half39-41Jalen Celestine makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jizzle James assists)
- 2nd Half39-43Amir Jenkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-43Shon Abaev makes 25-foot three point jumper (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half42-45Chance Moore makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-45Keyshuan Tillery makes 23-foot three point jumper (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half45-47Chance Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half45-49Chance Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half46-49Sencire Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-52Chance Moore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 2nd Half49-52Jalen Celestine makes 25-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half52-52Jizzle James makes 25-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half55-52Jalen Celestine makes 25-foot three point jumper (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half57-52Moustapha Thiam makes 2-foot dunk (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half57-55Honor Huff makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half57-58Treysen Eaglestaff makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half57-59Honor Huff makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-60Honor Huff makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-61Treysen Eaglestaff makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-62Treysen Eaglestaff makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Jizzle James makes 26-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours West Virginia Mountaineers, below favours Cincinnati Bearcats.
Venue
- Hope ColiseumMorgantown, WV
- Attendance9903
- OfficialsBret Smith, Tony Padilla, Paul Szelc
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