Cincinnati needed a response after a disappointing loss at the buzzer to Minnesota, and the Bearcats delivered exactly that Saturday night. The Bearcats put together one of their most complete offensive performances of the season, rolling past Dayton 95-72 at UD Arena.

The Bearcats showed signs of life on the offensive end, shooting 57.1% from the field and knocking down 10 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc. Cincinnati also finished with 21 assists, moving the ball effectively and finding contributors throughout the lineup.

The victory won’t erase the concerns that surfaced against Minnesota, and beating a struggling Dayton team doesn’t suddenly answer every question surrounding this group. However, Cincinnati needed to take care of business, and the Bearcats did exactly that.

Bearcats Set the Tone Early, Keep Aiden Derkack Quiet

One of Cincinnati’s biggest assignments entering Saturday’s matchup involved containing Aiden Derkack, who came into the game averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds and two assists per contest. Derkack had also shown an ability to stretch the floor, shooting 50% from three-point range while consistently getting himself to the free-throw line.

The Bearcats made his night difficult.

Cincinnati held Derkack to just four points and zero rebounds in the first half, preventing the Dayton forward from finding any sort of rhythm. He would finish with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists, but the Bearcats made him work for nearly everything.

Dayton’s offense as a whole struggled to find consistency throughout the night. The Flyers shot just 42.3% from the field and 26.1% from three-point range. Cincinnati’s defensive effort helped keep the Flyers from putting up a fight.

Tyler Tejada Brings the Energy

Tyler Tejada stood out for Cincinnati, and his impact went well beyond the scoring column.

The junior finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists while knocking down four of his six attempts from beyond the arc. His offensive production certainly helped, but his effort on the defensive end caught attention just as much.

Tejada looked motivated and played with a noticeable edge. He competed for loose balls, fought for rebounds and consistently brought energy to both ends of the floor. His nine rebounds led the Bearcats, and his willingness to do the dirty work helped Cincinnati control the game.

After the Minnesota loss, seeing that kind of effort from Tejada was encouraging. Cincinnati needs that version of him moving forward.

Tylen Riley Makes His Impact After Halftime

Tylen Riley took an unconventional route to his nine-point performance, watching the entire first half before making his way into the game after halftime.

Following the victory, Calhoun explained that the decision came down to two factors.

First, Cincinnati anticipated Dayton’s press, and Calhoun felt more comfortable allowing Elijah Perryman to handle those responsibilities. Second, the decision involved managing playing time and establishing expectations within the program.

“Time management is really important in our program,” Calhoun said.

Riley made the most of his opportunity, finishing with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes. He knocked down three of his five field-goal attempts, including one three pointer.

Perryman also handled his responsibilities well, finishing with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds while shooting 4-of-5 from the field.

Contributions From Across the Lineup

Cincinnati didn’t need one player to carry the offensive load, but Riley Allenspach certainly made his presence felt. Allenspach led all scorers with 20 points, shooting an efficient 9-of-13 from the field while adding five rebounds. Allenspach consistently found ways to score around the basket, gave Cincinnati a reliable interior presence and helped keep the offense rolling throughout the night. His performance was an encouraging sign for a Bearcats team that needs consistent production from its frontcourt.

Tejada followed with 16 points, while Elijah Perryman and MJ Collins each finished with 12. Collins shot 5-of-9 from the field, including two three-pointers.

Eric Mahaffey chipped in three points and three assists, while Amani Lyles added six points, four rebounds and three assists.

Cincinnati finished with a 37-27 advantage on the glass and recorded 21 assists compared to Dayton’s 10. The Bearcats also scored 50 points in the paint, consistently finding opportunities around the basket.

Amal Le’Tang led Dayton with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Tyler Ford added 15 points.

Coach Calhoun & Riley Allenspach Presser

A Bounce-Back, Not a Cure-All

Saturday’s result gives Cincinnati something positive to build on after the Minnesota disappointment.

The Bearcats played with offensive confidence, shared the basketball and received contributions from multiple players. Their shooting performance represented a significant improvement, and the defensive effort against Derkack provided another encouraging takeaway.

There is still plenty for Calhoun’s team to clean up. Cincinnati committed 12 turnovers and struggled at times to find consistency, especially during stretches when Dayton was disruptive to the Bearcat offense.

Still, there is a difference between responding and allowing one bad performance to snowball into another. Cincinnati took care of business on the road and avoided letting the Minnesota loss linger.

One other takeaway deserves recognition: Dayton’s crowd.

Despite the Flyers’ difficult start to the season, UD Arena brought an impressive atmosphere. The building was packed, the crowd stayed loud and the student section did its part to create a terrific college basketball environment. The support from the Dayton faithful stood out, even with the home team facing a difficult open to the season.

For Cincinnati, the focus now shifts toward building on Saturday’s performance. The Bearcats got the response they needed. The next step is making sure this version of Cincinnati becomes the standard rather than an occasional glimpse of what the team can accomplish.