Cincinnati Bearcats basketball opens up in CareSource Charity Classic with win over Ohio State

Homecoming festivities at the University of Cincinnati began Friday evening as two in-state teams that hadn’t met since 2019 tipped off in the CareSource Charity Classic basketball event.

Those supporting the cause were treated to an entertaining and athletic night as the Cincinnati Bearcats pulled away from Ohio State early and notched the 80-62 win.

New forward Dillon Mitchell was a presence all night, making all six of his shots, including several dunks. Mitchell had 12 points and seven rebounds. Simas Lukošius also had 12 points while Day Day Thomas added 11.

Seven Bearcats rang up 3-pointers with Jizzle James, Josh Reed and Lukošius all making a pair. Eight Bearcats had steals. The downside was 21 turnovers.

“That’s the kind of thing that’ll get your butt beat in the Big 12,” UC coach Wes Miller said.

Micah Parrish and Meechie Johnson Jr. led Ohio State with 11 points each. The Bearcats outrebounded the Buckeyes 38-21.

“It’s no secret, this is a really good offensive rebounding team,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “As much as we want to simulate that in practice, we need reps against a really good team in that regard.”

Attendance wasn’t given for the game, but it appeared the arena was at least 75% full.

UC’s win doesn’t count, but it’s been a while

For the Cincinnati Bearcats, they were meeting Ohio State for the first time in five years and looking for their first win over the Buckeyes since the second of two NCAA titles were won March 24, 1962.

Any UC fan that goes back that far at least left the exhibition with a little grin. While the Bearcats left happy, Miller’s goal is to point out their shortcomings.

“Guys, it didn’t count,” he said at the podium. “We can’t think we ever did anything in dang October. We’ve got to come back to work on Sunday. These guys can’t think because there’s a double-figure win in an exhibition game that we did something. That would be a major mistake.”

What’s the meaning of an exhibition win?

It always feels nice to emerge victorious, but it loses its luster when it doesn’t count. In Mick Cronin’s final year, UC traveled to Canada for some exhibitions and lost to Carleton 86-67. They rebounded to win the American Athletic Conference tournament and the NCAA tournament, finishing 28-7. More famously, the 1991-92 Final Four team coached by Bob Huggins, blew a lead and lost to Athletes In Action before going 29-5 with the last loss in the Metrodome against Michigan’s Fab Five.

For UC, wins are more important starting Monday, Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and even more important in the Big 12 starting Dec. 30 in Manhattan, Kansas against Kansas State.

Ohio State also begins for real Nov. 4 in Las Vegas against the Texas Longhorns.

5 takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats/Ohio State Buckeyes exhibition

1. There are a lot of options

Texas transfer Dillon Mitchell, Simas Lukošius, Aziz Bandaogo, Dan Skillings Jr. and Jizzle James started for UC as Miller lived up to his thoughts of playing four “wings” with one post player. Less than seven minutes into the game UC led 18-6 after a Mitchell dunk and Miller inserted a new five after a Buckeye timeout.

“The main thing with this group is we have fun together,” Mitchell said. “When we go out there we’re going to have fun at the end of the day. That’s something this team really connects on. It’s a big reason why I came here. I know the goal that I have as far as what I want to accomplish with this team and that’s a national championship. It’s good to know that every player down the bench has that same goal.”

In the second half, Miller started Bandaogo, Skillings, Thomas, C.J. Fredrick and Tyler Betsey. The purpose was for different looks. Most of the looks looked good as UC never trailed.

“Depth has got to be a great strength of our team,” Miller said. “The positional versatility gives us the ability to do some different things. We have some guys that are versatile enough to defend multiple positions and switch some things.”

2. The long arms of the law

Length is a great luxury on this team, not so much in height but in wingspan. While Bandaogo might not be a dominant force, he is still a 7-foot windmill ready to slap shots. The addition of Mitchell should be of major help in rebounding, shot-changing and dunking with authority. Then there’s Skillings at 6-foot-6 who Bearcats fans know has a wingspan surpassing seven feet.

With those three starting plus a 6-foot-8 shooting guard in Lukošius, the Bearcats should be in good shape most games barring foul trouble.

“We have a lot of length on this team,” Skillings said. “We have great size. It’s our preparation for games that gets all those tipped balls.”

3. Notable long-range buckets

Though he’s certainly shot plenty of times on Fifth Third Arena rims, Rayvon Griffith made his presence known by knocking down a 3-pointer on his first shot of the season. Griffith is a redshirt freshman who later added a crowd-pleasing dunk. True freshman Tyler Betsey, who chose UC over Alabama and Connecticut, also popped in a 3-pointer for his first Bearcat bucket. USC transfer Arrinten Page added a nice baby hook for his first score.

“Seeing Ravyon Griffith get out there, it’s been a long time coming,” Miller said. “In summer practice and fall practice, he’s been our most competitive edgy guy. Tyler Betsey’s going to be a really good player. Every time he shoots the ball I think it’s going in. AP (Page), it’s going to be so important to bring him along quickly. He’s going to have a really key role on this team.”

4. Familiar faces on the floor

UC heavily pursued Duke 6-foot-9 forward Sean Stewart who ventured north to the Buckeyes. Stewart had nine points, seven in the first half.

Former Moeller High School 6-foot-6 wing Evan Mahaffey, whose career started at Penn State, is in his second season with Ohio State where he made 35 starts last season. He started the scrimmage Friday but did not score.

5. Sitting out

UC 6-foot-9 freshman Tyler McKinley is on crutches and will miss the year with a knee injury as reported last month. McKinley was still in good spirits. By all indications, he was a force this summer and would have played. With the Bearcats’ length, it’s scary to think what it would have been with a healthy McKinley.

Ohio State’s 7-foot-1 center Aaron Bradshaw, a Kentucky transfer, did not suit up for the Buckeyes. His presence likely would have been of note in this contest.

“I don’t anticipate him being out very long,” Buckeyes coach Diebler said. “He’s working his way back, hopefully here in the next handful of days.”

Despite Bradshaw’s absence, Diebler didn’t think that warranted getting outrebounded by 17.

A name from the past

Jalan Wingfield, a four-star 2026 power forward from Atlanta, is visiting the Bearcats this weekend. He is listed at 6-foot-8, 225 pounds and has double-digit college offers. His father, Dontonio Wingfield, played one season for the Bearcats in 1993-94 averaging 16 points and nine rebounds. Wingfield came to UC a Parade All-American and was 6-foot-8 and 256 pounds. In his first-ever game, he scored 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a win over Butler. The elder Wingfield played for Seattle and Portland in the NBA, leaving the Bob Huggins Bearcats after one season.

Purpose of the CareSource Charity Classic

The idea of the game begins with Dayton coach Anthony Grant who put it together to support mental health.

Net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit mental health providers and charities within each school’s footprint, along with Jay’s Light, an organization begun by Grant and his wife, Chris, to help mothers, fathers, teens and young adults find resources for mental health struggles.

Dayton played Ohio State last year. This year Buckeyes coach Diebler got involved and tried to have a doubleheader for the cause. Instead, it was UC and Ohio State Friday, with Xavier and Dayton playing Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 thoughts on Cincinnati Bearcats basketball win vs. Ohio State Friday