Myles Colvin put on a shooting clinic Thursday night, giving Cincinnati exactly what the Bearcats needed to take care of Green Bay. The senior guard erupted for 31 points, knocked down seven three-pointers and helped Cincinnati secure an 81-64 victory at Fifth Third Arena.

Colvin controlled the offensive tempo from the opening half, finishing 10-of-17 from the field and 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. He also grabbed seven rebounds and went 4-of-5 at the free-throw line in 34 minutes of action. Green Bay struggled to find an answer for Colvin throughout the night, and Cincinnati continued to build separation as the game progressed.

The Bearcats improved their record with another convincing victory, but Thursday’s performance offered more than just another win. Amani Lyles continued to make his case for a larger role, while Cincinnati’s defensive pressure created opportunities in transition. However, some inconsistent stretches and quiet performances from key contributors leave a few things to monitor heading into Monday’s matchup against Minnesota.

Myles Colvin Puts on a Show

Cincinnati needed an offensive spark, and Colvin absolutely delivered.

The senior guard found his rhythm from long range and consistently punished Green Bay whenever the Phoenix gave him space. His seven three-pointers accounted for 21 of his 31 points, giving the Bearcats a perimeter sniper that Green Bay struggled to contain.

Colvin also contributed beyond the scoring column. His seven rebounds helped Cincinnati finish with a 30-25 advantage on the glass, and his defensive activity produced a memorable sequence late in the second half.

Colvin blocked a jumper from Green Bay’s Lucas Thomas before securing the defensive rebound himself. Moments later, he finished a layup at the other end to cap another productive stretch for Cincinnati.

The Bearcats built their largest lead of the night at 21 points and never allowed Green Bay to threaten the outcome down the stretch.

Colvin’s performance provided the headline, but Cincinnati received meaningful contributions from several other players.

Amani Lyles Makes His Case for a Bigger Role

Amani Lyles turned in his strongest performance in a Cincinnati uniform, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Lyles shot an efficient 7-of-10 from the field and consistently made the right decisions with the basketball. He attacked opportunities around the basket, finished through traffic and provided another reliable scoring option alongside Colvin.

His performance carries additional importance with senior forward Jayden Hastings unavailable because of a shoulder injury. If Hastings remains sidelined for Monday’s matchup against Minnesota, Lyles could have an opportunity to step into the starting lineup.

Calhoun certainly sees the potential for more responsibility.

“Amani could have a bigger role for us. He is really intelligent. He is a grown man. He can do a little bit of everything.”

Lyles showed exactly what Calhoun described Thursday night. His efficiency, versatility and ability to contribute in multiple areas make him an important piece of Cincinnati’s rotation moving forward.

MJ Collins also provided a productive night with 11 points, six assists and three rebounds. Collins shot 3-of-8 from the field and knocked down two three-pointers while helping facilitate the offense.

Eric Mahaffey matched Collins with 11 points of his own, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. Mahaffey added three rebounds and three assists, giving Cincinnati another efficient offensive performance.

Defensive Pressure Creates Separation

Cincinnati’s defensive performance featured some inconsistent stretches, but the Bearcats generated enough pressure to create a significant advantage.

The Bearcats recorded nine steals and forced Green Bay into 21 turnovers. Cincinnati committed just 10 turnovers, creating an 11-turnover advantage that played a major role in the final margin.

That pressure translated directly into offense. Cincinnati scored 23 points off turnovers compared to just 12 for Green Bay. The Bearcats also dominated the fast-break category, producing eight points while limiting the Phoenix to three.

Cincinnati finished with a 48.3% shooting performance from the field and connected on 10 of 31 attempts from three-point range. Green Bay shot 47.9% overall and 31.8% from beyond the arc.

Despite the victory, Cincinnati still has room to improve defensively. Green Bay found opportunities to score throughout the night, and the Bearcats cannot afford to surrender comfortable looks against tougher competition.

The defensive pressure and ability to force turnovers remain encouraging signs, but Cincinnati needs more consistency as the schedule becomes increasingly challenging.

Quiet Nights From Tejada and Riley

While Colvin carried the scoring load, Tyler Tejada and Tylen Riley struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

Tejada finished without a point, shooting 0-of-7 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point range. He added three rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes.

Riley also had a difficult shooting night, finishing with two points on 1-of-3 shooting. He contributed two rebounds and three assists but couldn’t get it going.

Calhoun addressed the struggles after the game and made one thing clear: Cincinnati has enough depth that nobody can afford to rely exclusively on scoring to contribute.

“The beautiful thing about my team is I don’t have to wait on anybody. I’m paid to win games… If you aren’t going to score, you have to do something else.”

That message carries some weight heading into the next matchup. Tejada and Riley both have important roles within the rotation, but Cincinnati needs production across the lineup to compete against stronger opponents.

Tejada showed his commitment to getting back on track after the final buzzer. He stayed on the court following the victory to get extra shots up, an encouraging sign after a frustrating offensive performance.

Rebounding Remains an Area to Watch Against Minnesota

Cincinnati eventually won the rebounding battle 30-25, but the Bearcats still need to improve on the glass before Monday.

The Bearcats finished with 13 offensive rebounds and 17 defensive rebounds. Green Bay collected 25 total rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

Although Cincinnati controlled the overall margin, Minnesota presents a different challenge with a size advantage in the frontcourt. The Bearcats cannot afford to surrender second-chance opportunities or allow Minnesota to establish position around the basket.

Cincinnati will need a more physical approach on the glass, against a team capable of creating problems with size and length.

The availability of Hastings also remains worth monitoring. The senior forward’s absence leaves Cincinnati without an important frontcourt presence, making contributions from Lyles and the rest of the rotation even more important.

Hastings and sophomore guard Akai Fleming, who continues to deal with a knee injury, both missed Thursday’s contest.

Bearcats Turn Their Attention to Minnesota

Cincinnati handled business against Green Bay, but Monday’s matchup against Minnesota should provide a much better indication of where the Bearcats stand against a more physical opponent.

Colvin’s big night gives Cincinnati plenty to build on heading into Monday’s matchup. Lyles continues to make a strong case for increased minutes, while Collins and Mahaffey provided scoring.

The Bearcats also demonstrated their ability to turn defensive pressure into easy points, forcing 21 turnovers and creating separation when Green Bay struggled to protect the basketball.

However, Cincinnati cannot overlook the inconsistent defensive stretches, rebounding concerns or lack of production from Tejada and Riley.

Calhoun has made his expectations clear. Cincinnati has enough players capable of contributing, and nobody can afford to disappear when the shots stop falling.

Colvin supplied the fireworks Thursday night. Now the Bearcats need to turn that momentum into a complete team performance against Minnesota.