Cincinnati Vs Kansas: Thiam’s career-high lifts Bearcats to 84-68 upset at Allen Fieldhouse
In a surprise finish at Allen Fieldhouse, cincinnati vs kansas ended with Cincinnati beating Kansas 84-68, powered by Moustapha Thiam’s career-high 28 and a second-half push that the Jayhawks couldn’t answer.
Cincinnati Vs Kansas — Thiam’s night and the final margin
Moustapha Thiam finished with a career-high 28 points as Cincinnati closed the game strongly to create the 84-68 margin in Lawrence. The Bearcats took control in the second half after staying within reach throughout the first half; Kansas never mounted the decisive run it needed to retake command at Allen Fieldhouse.
How the game unfolded at Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas carried some momentum from a recent road win but struggled to sustain it against Cincinnati. Darryn Peterson scored 17 points and Flory Bidunga added 16, with Bidunga picking up his third foul late in the first half. At one point in the second half Kansas trailed by five with about seven and a half minutes remaining while Thiam was up to 24 points; Cincinnati then extended its lead and closed the gap on Kansas’ home floor.
The first half saw the teams trade runs and stay close. Jamari McDowell had early minutes off the bench for Kansas and Darryn Peterson began the game with four points after dealing with cramps earlier in the week. Cincinnati’s Baba Miller provided early offense, reaching eight points and adding a couple of assists as UC remained within striking distance heading into the break.
Kansas coach Bill Self praised a late defensive possession in the first half that forced an air ball on a 3-point attempt, but stretches of inconsistency on defense left too many open looks for Cincinnati. Kansas committed turnovers that led to points for the Bearcats, and those miscues contributed to the widening deficit in the second half.
Broadcasts, odds and what comes next
The matchup will be part of CBS’s broadcast slate during the 2025-26 season, with streaming available on Fubo; Ian Eagle handled play-by-play, Bill Raftery was the analyst, Ken Mack the producer and Andy Goldberg the director. Odds were listed courtesy of FanDuel as of Friday, Feb. 20.
The cincinnati vs kansas meeting is already on the schedules referenced by both programs: a notice lists Kansas to host Cincinnati Saturday at noon. Recovery and travel plans for Cincinnati will follow the upset, while Kansas will regroup after the 84-68 setback at Allen Fieldhouse ahead of that next scheduled meeting.
