West Virginia Edges Cincinnati in Close Contest
Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Fifth Third Arena
West Virginia Mountaineers 59, Cincinnati Bearcats 54, 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 West Virginia Mountaineers vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
West Virginia Mountaineers beat Cincinnati Bearcats 59-54 at Fifth Third Arena on February 5, 2026.
Who was favored in West Virginia Mountaineers vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
Cincinnati Bearcats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -245 (about 71% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested game, the West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 59-54 at Fifth Third Arena. This matchup was significant for both teams, as West Virginia aimed to solidify its position in the standings while Cincinnati sought to break a losing streak against their rivals. The victory marked West Virginia's fourth consecutive win over Cincinnati, extending their head-to-head record to 3-0 this season.
Cincinnati entered the game with a home record of 11-12 and a recent form of 4-6 over their last ten games, including a streak of one loss. They averaged 67.7 points scored and allowed 69.4 points during this stretch. The Bearcats had struggled in their last five games, managing only two wins and averaging 63.8 points scored while allowing 72.4 points. Their home performance was notably better, with a record of 4-1 in their last five home games, but they faced challenges when playing away, with an away record of 0-5.
On the other hand, West Virginia came into the game with a record of 15-8, having won six of their last ten games but currently on a one-game losing streak. They averaged 65.3 points scored and allowed 67.2 points in that span. Their recent form included three wins in their last five games, with an average of 62.4 points scored and 65.8 points allowed. The Mountaineers had a strong home record of 5-1 in their last six home games but struggled on the road with an away record of 1-3.
The two teams had faced each other earlier in the season, with West Virginia winning their previous encounter 62-60 on January 7, 2026. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the game, as Cincinnati sought revenge on their home court. However, the Bearcats were unable to overcome their rivals once again.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing for either team, which meant both sides were able to field their full rosters. This allowed for a competitive atmosphere throughout the game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Cincinnati favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 127.5. The odds indicated a close matchup, reflecting the expectations surrounding the game.
The conditions at Fifth Third Arena were typical for a winter evening, with fans in attendance creating a lively atmosphere. Viewers were treated to a game that featured several key scoring plays in the second half, including a critical 24-foot three-point jumper by Jizzle James and several free throws by Honor Huff and Brenen Lorient, which helped West Virginia maintain their lead as the clock wound down.
Ultimately, the Mountaineers' ability to execute crucial plays in the final moments secured their victory, while Cincinnati's struggles continued, leaving them with a home win probability of 0.0 by the end of the game. This result not only reinforced West Virginia's dominance in the series but also highlighted the challenges Cincinnati faces as they look to improve their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CIN -5.5 | 127.5 o -105 / u -115 | West Virginia Mountaineers +200 · Cincinnati Bearcats -245 |
Leaders
- PointsJizzle James18Cincinnati Bearcats
- AssistsJalen Celestine6Cincinnati Bearcats
- ReboundsJalen Celestine10Cincinnati Bearcats
- PointsHonor Huff16West Virginia Mountaineers
- AssistsHonor Huff6West Virginia Mountaineers
- ReboundsHarlan Obioha6West Virginia Mountaineers
Recent form
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last 10: 4-6Streak L167.7 scored · 69.4 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L54-76at Houston CougarsJan 31
- W67-57vs Baylor BearsJan 28
- L68-82at Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 25
- L51-77at Arizona WildcatsJan 22
- W79-70vs Iowa State CyclonesJan 17
- W77-68vs Colorado BuffaloesJan 15
- L72-73at UCF KnightsJan 11
- L60-62at West Virginia MountaineersJan 7
- L60-67vs Houston CougarsJan 3
- W89-62vs Lipscomb BisonsDec 30
West Virginia Mountaineers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L165.3 scored · 67.2 allowed per game1-3 away
- L53-63vs Baylor BearsJan 31
- W59-54vs Kansas State WildcatsJan 28
- L53-88at Arizona WildcatsJan 24
- W75-63at Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 22
- W72-61vs Colorado BuffaloesJan 17
- L48-77at Houston CougarsJan 14
- W86-75vs Kansas JayhawksJan 10
- W62-60vs Cincinnati BearcatsJan 7
- L59-80at Iowa State CyclonesJan 3
- W86-51vs Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsDec 23
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 | West Virginia Mountaineers | Cincinnati Bearcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-48 | 20-55 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 36 |
| Three-pointers | 6-21 | 7-23 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 30 |
| Free throws | 11-21 | 7-9 |
| Free throw % | 52 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 23 |
| Assists | 13 | 11 |
| Steals | 5 | 4 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 18 |
| Fouls | 15 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 18 | 74 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half16-27DJ Thomas makes layup
- 1st Half18-27Brenen Lorient makes 3-foot dunk (Honor Huff assists)
- 1st Half20-27Brenen Lorient makes layup (Treysen Eaglestaff assists)
- 1st Half20-28Sencire Harris makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Half20-30Baba Miller makes driving layup
- 2nd Half20-31Baba Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half20-32Baba Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half22-32Harlan Obioha makes layup
- 2nd Half23-32Harlan Obioha makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half23-35Jalen Celestine makes 23-foot three point jumper (Day Day Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half23-37Day Day Thomas makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half25-37Chance Moore makes driving layup
- 2nd Half28-37Honor Huff makes 25-foot three point jumper (Amir Jenkins assists)
- 2nd Half28-40Day Day Thomas makes 30-foot three point jumper (Tyler McKinley assists)
- 2nd Half31-40Honor Huff makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chance Moore assists)
- 2nd Half34-40Honor Huff makes 26-foot three pointer (Amir Jenkins assists)
- 2nd Half36-40Honor Huff makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half37-40Honor Huff makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half39-40Honor Huff makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-40Treysen Eaglestaff makes 25-foot three point jumper (Harlan Obioha assists)
- 2nd Half42-42Jizzle James makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half44-42Amir Jenkins makes layup (Honor Huff assists)
- 2nd Half44-43Baba Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-43DJ Thomas makes 16-foot jumper (Honor Huff assists)
- 2nd Half46-46Jizzle James makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half46-47Tyler McKinley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-47DJ Thomas makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 2nd Half50-47Honor Huff makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-48Baba Miller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-49Baba Miller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-49DJ Thomas makes 25-foot three point jumper (Honor Huff assists)
- 2nd Half54-49DJ Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-49DJ Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-52Jizzle James makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half56-52Honor Huff makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-52Honor Huff makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-52Brenen Lorient makes 3-foot dunk (Jasper Floyd assists)
- 2nd Half58-54Jalen Celestine makes layup
- 2nd Half59-54Brenen Lorient makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-54Brenen Lorient makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Cincinnati Bearcats, below favours West Virginia Mountaineers.
Venue
- Fifth Third ArenaCincinnati, OH
- Attendance10215
- OfficialsRoger Ayers, Doug Sirmons, Jeffrey Anderson
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