In a stunning turn of events, Cincinnati pulled off a monumental upset at Fifth Third Arena, defeating No. 7 Iowa State 79-70. The Bearcats, with a mediocre 10-10 record, were expected to be no match for the Cyclones' high-powered offense, but they had other plans. Day Day Thomas led the charge for Cincinnati, scoring 19 points to propel his team to a crucial victory.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Cincinnati taking a 35-31 lead into the break. Iowa State's Milan Momcilovic was unstoppable, scoring 17 of his game-high 34 points in the opening 20 minutes. However, the Bearcats' balanced attack, which included 15 points from Jizzle James and 12 points and 5 rebounds from Jalen Celestine, allowed them to stay ahead.
The second half was more of the same, with both teams trading baskets and playing tenacious defense. Cincinnati's lead ballooned to as many as 12 points, but Iowa State refused to go away. Momcilovic continued to score at will, and Joshua Jefferson chipped in with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. However, the Bearcats' depth and determination ultimately was too much for the Cyclones.
This upset is a significant blow to Iowa State's tournament resume, as it drops them to 18-2 and hands them a Quadrant 2 loss. On the other hand, Cincinnati's victory is a massive boost to their own resume, as it counts as a Quadrant 1 win. The Bearcats' current NET ranking of 78 will likely receive a significant bump, and this win could be a crucial factor in their tournament chances.
The fact that Cincinnati was able to take down a top-10 team without any prior indication of an upset makes this victory all the more impressive. Without a pre-game prediction to speak of, the Bearcats were able to fly under the radar and catch the Cyclones off guard. As a result, they have injected new life into their season and given themselves a legitimate chance to make some noise in the tournament.
The implications of this result cannot be overstated. Cincinnati's tournament chances, which were previously slim, have increased dramatically. A Quadrant 1 win over a top-10 team is a rare commodity, and the Bearcats will likely be able to leverage this victory to improve their seeding and potentially even secure a bid. Meanwhile, Iowa State must regroup and refocus in order to maintain their position as a top seed. As for now, Cincinnati is basking in the glory of a monumental upset, and their fans have every right to be excited about the possibilities that this win has opened up.