The Cincinnati Bearcats opened the 2026-27 regular season with a 79-53 victory over American on Monday night at Fifth Third Arena. While the final score suggests a comfortable night for the Bearcats, the opening 20 minutes told a different story.

Cincinnati entered halftime with a narrow 35-33 lead after struggling to establish consistent offensive rhythm. American played with confidence, made things difficult defensively, and leaned on a strong performance from Madden Collins. However, Jerrod Calhoun’s squad found another gear after the break, outscoring the Eagles 44-20 in the second half to secure its first victory of the season.

The win also gives Cincinnati a small boost in the KenPom rankings, moving from No. 32 to No. 31.

Cincinnati Flips the Switch After Halftime

The first half offered plenty of reasons for Cincinnati to be frustrated. The Bearcats struggled to find consistency from the field and allowed American to hang around much longer than expected. Their defensive intensity also lacked the consistency that eventually defined the second half.

That changed coming out of the locker room.

Cincinnati started creating turnovers, attacking the glass, and finding better opportunities offensively. The Bearcats finished the night shooting 42% from the field, including 29.6% from three-point range. Those numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, but their ability to generate additional possessions made a significant difference.

The defensive effort deserves particular recognition. Cincinnati finished with 15 steals, forced 18 turnovers, and held American to just 27.8% shooting from the field.

The Bearcats also controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 48-32. That advantage helped Cincinnati establish control of the game and prevent American from finding second-chance opportunities.

American struggled to find answers down the stretch, missing its final four field-goal attempts and going without a made field goal during the final 3:47.

MJ Collins Sets the Tone With Defensive Energy

One of the defining moments of the second half came from MJ Collins.

Collins stepped up to face-guard an American ball handler the length of the floor, applying pressure until he forced a turnover. The ball went off an American player, giving possession back to Cincinnati and sending another wave of energy through Fifth Third Arena.

It was more than just a steal. It represented the type of effort and defensive intensity Calhoun wants from this group.

Collins finished with 13 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and knocking down two three-pointers. His ability to contribute offensively while bringing that level of defensive energy makes him a vital piece of Cincinnati’s rotation.

The Bearcats need players willing to make those effort plays, especially when the offense isn’t clicking.

David Iweze Makes His Presence Felt

One of my biggest second-half takeaways was the performance of David Iweze.

Iweze brought tremendous energy in his 17 minutes, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, and a block. His defensive activity stood out, particularly his willingness to challenge shots and compete around the basket.

He plays with a level of effort that can make a difference even when the offense isn’t running through him. He gives Cincinnati another physical presence inside and showed that he can contribute in several areas.

His importance could increase significantly depending on the severity of Jayden Hastings’ shoulder injury.

Hastings exited the game and did not return after appearing to injure his shoulder. He played just two minutes, and the injury immediately became one of the biggest concerns coming out of Monday night’s victory.

Postgame, it was noted that the thought was that Hasting’s shoulder had gone out of place but that we will know more in the coming days.

Hopefully, the injury isn’t serious. Hastings gives Cincinnati valuable size and frontcourt depth, and the Bearcats would certainly benefit from having him available as the season progresses.

American’s Madden Collins Gives Cincinnati Problems

While Cincinnati eventually took control, American deserves credit for making the Bearcats work for it.

Madden Collins delivered an impressive individual performance, leading the Eagles with 20 points. He shot 5-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, consistently finding ways to get himself to the charity stripe.

Collins put pressure on Cincinnati’s defense throughout the night and kept American competitive during the first half.

If he carries over the success he found last season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name generate significant interest in the transfer portal after this season. He showed the ability to create offense and draw fouls against a power-conference opponent.

Tejada Leads the Offensive Charge

Tyler Tejada looked comfortable offensively and provided one of Cincinnati’s most consistent scoring performances.

He finished with 13 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. His perimeter shooting helped Cincinnati stretch the floor, and he provided an important scoring presence as the Bearcats pulled away.

Tylen Riley also contributed nine points and five assists. His ability to facilitate the offense will remain important as Cincinnati continues developing its identity.

One of the more encouraging performances came from Elijah Perryman. Although he didn’t score, Perryman recorded five assists in 15 minutes. His ability to create opportunities for teammates gives Cincinnati another option when it needs someone to organize the offense.

Perryman has an opportunity to become a vital part of this program in the coming years, particularly if he remains in Cincinnati.

Myles Colvin didn’t have the shooting night he wanted, finishing with just three points on 1-of-5 shooting. However, he found other ways to contribute, pulling down seven rebounds in 15 minutes.

That’s an encouraging sign from a player who can impact the game in multiple ways. Even when his shot isn’t falling, Colvin can help Cincinnati win possessions.

Trevian Carson also deserves recognition for his defensive activity. His active hands and ability to anticipate where the ball will travel make him a disruptive presence. He consistently looks for opportunities to get into passing lanes and create problems for opposing ball handlers.

Those defensive contributions don’t always show up in the scoring column, but they fit perfectly with the identity Calhoun wants to establish.

Amani Lyles and Eric Mahaffey Provide Interesting Rotation Questions

Amani Lyles saw limited action, which wasn’t particularly surprising considering how recently he joined the program.

The coaching staff added Lyles late in the process, and he needs time to become comfortable within the system and develop chemistry with his new teammates. He played seven minutes, finishing with two points, three rebounds, and two assists.

I wouldn’t expect his role to expand significantly against Green Bay on Thursday. The coaching staff will likely continue working him into the rotation as he gets more comfortable.

Another interesting development involved Eric Mahaffey.

Calhoun experimented with Mahaffey handling some point guard responsibilities, giving the coaching staff another look at his versatility. Mahaffey finished with six points, four rebounds, and two assists in 13 minutes.

Mahaffey brings a unique skill set to this roster. He’s a true Swiss Army knife who can contribute in different roles depending on what the team needs.

Calhoun’s willingness to give him opportunities at the point speaks to the trust he has in Mahaffey’s basketball instincts and versatility. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff utilizes him as the season develops.

What’s Next for Cincinnati?

The Bearcats won’t have to wait long to get back on the floor.

Cincinnati welcomes Green Bay to Fifth Third Arena on Thursday as it looks to build on Monday night’s season-opening victory.

There are certainly areas for improvement. The first-half offensive struggles showed that this team still has some work to do, and Hastings’ injury creates an important question regarding the frontcourt rotation.

However, the second-half response offered plenty of positives.

Cincinnati showed it can create offense through defensive pressure, dominate the rebounding battle, and find contributions throughout the roster. The 15 steals and 16-rebound advantage particularly stood out as indicators of the type of identity Calhoun wants this group to establish.

The road to March is officially underway. Monday night wasn’t perfect, but the Bearcats found a way to respond, turned a competitive game into a convincing victory, and gave their home crowd something to build on.

Now it’s time to carry that momentum into Thursday.