Utah Can’t Hold Late Lead, Drops Tight One to Cincinnati
Feb 15, 2026, 12:20 PM | Updated: Feb 17, 2026, 9:34 am
Feb 15, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Utah Utes forward Seydou Traore (0) drives to the basket as he collides with Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam (52) in the first at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
(52)
CINCINNATI — Utah had it. Up five with 1:56 left. On the road. Against a team that had controlled most of the afternoon.
Then the final 40 seconds happened. Cincinnati closed on an 8–0 run — punctuated by a Baba Miller fast-break dunk with :40 remaining and two Day Day Thomas free throws at :18 — to steal a 68–65 win from the Utes inside Fifth Third Arena
It was a game defined by narrow margins, late execution, and one brutal defensive lapse. Utah led for just over nine minutes. Cincinnati led for more than 24. The Bearcats made the last push count.
The Final Sequence
With 1:56 remaining, Keanu Dawes buried a sweet one-footed paint jumper to give Utah a 65–60 advantage.
From there:
-
Day Day Thomas answered with a jumper (65–62).
- Terrence Brown missed the front end of a 1+1.
-
Baba Miller converted two free throws (65–64).
-
Don McHenry missed a floater
-
Cincinnati raced the other way for a Miller fast-break dunk to put Cincinnati ahead 66–65.
-
Dawes missed a three.
-
Thomas sealed it with two free throws at :18.
- McHenry missed two three’s
The Numbers That Hurt
Utah shot just 37.3% from the field and 32% in the second half . Cincinnati? 44.4% overall and +16 in paint points (32–16).
Even with Utah winning the rebounding battle 39–29 and grabbing 15 offensive boards, the Bearcats were more efficient and got easier baskets.
Second-half efficiency told the real story:
-
Utah: 10–31 shooting (32%)
-
Cincinnati: 10–24 shooting (42%)
That’s your difference.
Dawes Battles, McHenry Scores
Dawes led the way, delivering a double-double 16 points, and 13 rebounds. He kept possessions alive and was Utah’s most consistent presence, inside or out.
Don McHenry led Utah with 18 points and three triples, including a critical three midway through the second half that briefly flipped momentum. Terrence Brown added 11 points, while Seydou Traore chipped in 10.
Balanced scoring wasn’t the issue. Utah’s inability to shoot it more efficiently was. Cincinnati’s size presented a lot of issues for Utah offensively, as the Bearcats finished the game with six blocks and heavily contested many more.
Cincinnati’s Interior Edge
Moustapha Thiam anchored the interior with 15 points and 10 rebounds, converting efficiently around the rim and drawing contact. Baba Miller added 13 points and seven boards, but his most important play wasn’t a stat accumulation — it was the fast-break dunk at the 0:40 mark that flipped the game for good.
Day Day Thomas quietly dictated tempo. He finished with 16 points, shot 5-for-14, and went a perfect 5-for-5 at the line. When the moment tightened, Cincinnati put the ball in his hands. He delivered.
The Bearcats scored 18 paint points in the first half alone and consistently forced Utah to defend downhill. Even when Utah forced missed shots, Cincinnati capitalized late when it mattered most. And in crunch time, Miller’s dunk changed everything.
Bottom Line
This one wasn’t about effort. It was about finishing. Utah won the rebounding battle 39–29. They grabbed 15 offensive boards. They defended the three-point line and held Cincinnati to 4-of-15 from deep. On paper, those are winning indicators.
Cincinnati scored 32 points in the paint, shot 44.4% overall, and went 16-for-20 at the line. When the game tightened, the Bearcats didn’t settle. They attacked. They got downhill. They converted.
Utah, meanwhile, shot 37.3% and just 32% in the second half. Too many empty possessions. Too many missed chances to create separation when leading by five with under two minutes left. Utah had a chance to steal one on the road and Jensen’s squad couldn’t finish.
