Cincinnati beats No. 17 San Diego State 71-62 in OT

CINCINNATI -- The University of Cincinnati Bearcats finally got the quality win they've needed so badly, but to get it they had to overcome a questionable foul call against Kevin Johnson that enabled San Diego State to send the game into overtime.

Instead of heading to the locker room to celebrate a victory, the Bearcats were forced to regroup. When they came out for the overtime period, they made sure a bad call wouldn't hurt them again, outscoring No. 17 San Diego State, 14-5, to post a 71-62 victory Wednesday night before 9,217 fans, the largest crowd of the season at Fifth Third Arena.

Coming on the heels of an excruciating one-point double-overtime loss at Nebraska on Saturday, the Bearcats summoned the resolve they needed, with a little help from the coaching staff.

"We tell the players all officials are bad," said associate head coach Larry Davis, who filled in for head coach Mick Cronin in the post-game interview session because Cronin didn't feel well. "That's one play. It's over. You've got to move on and win the game. If you're soft and have no mental toughness, you worry about the official missing a call and you don't defend, you don't execute, and you don't do what you need to do to win the game."

The victory improved UC's record to 7-2 and extended its home winning streak against non-conference opponents to 16. The Bearcats have won 24 of their last 25 home games overall. San Diego State (7-3) had won 18 of its previous 19 overtime games.

UC was led by Farad Cobb and Troy Caupain, each with 12 points. Winston Shepard led the Aztecs with 17.

Shepard was involved in the controversial call with 3.9 seconds left in regulation. Caupain had just missed the second end of a bonus situation, leaving the Bearcats clinging to a 57-55 lead when Shepard lost his footing as he drove the baseline, apparently turning the ball over to UC. But Johnson was called for a foul and Shepard made two free throws to send the game into overtime.

"I was standing right there," Caupain said. "I think he was going too fast and he just slipped."

Not that it mattered what Caupain thought. What mattered was the way the Bearcats responded. They scored first in overtime on two Caupain free throws only to see Trey Kell make a 3-pointer to put the Aztecs ahead by one.

From that point, it was all UC. The Bearcats scored the next 12 points to put the game away, getting a key 3-pointer from Cobb that gave them a 64-60 lead with 2:26 left. They made five of six free throws to close out the victory

"Psychologically it's a huge win for us," Davis said. "It's a huge win for our guys. They grew up a lot in the Nebraska game in that they showed great toughness."

Led by Cobb, who made five of 11 shots overall and two of five from 3-point range, the Bearcats shot 47.2 percent -- 59.1 percent in the second half -- while remaining stingy on defense. They forced 18 turnovers and limited San Diego State to 39.3 percent shooting. The Aztecs were 5-for-25 from 3-point range compared with UC's 4-for-11. The Bearcats made 17 of 21 from the free throw line.

Cobb said it was a driving layup with 7:08 left in the second half and UC trailing by five that got him going.

"Anytime the ball goes in the hole, I always feel like the next one is going in no matter where it's from," Cobb said.

Just as the loss at Nebraska was tough for the Bearcats to swallow, San Diego State coach Steve Fisher was having trouble digesting his team's loss to UC. The Aztecs had won their last nine overtime games.

"We knew they had a good defense," Fisher said. "We knew they present problems. They're a tough-minded basketball team and they make you pay. We didn't do quite enough. It's a game we could have won."

But this time it was UC that found a way to win a game that could pay huge dividends when the NCAA Tournament selection committee assembles in March.

"I said it the last time," Caupain said. "It's about time they start talking about Cincinnati basketball against big-time teams. San Diego State is a big-time team. We battled hard. We fought hard. We didn't give up and we came out victorious."

Bill Koch writes for The Cincinnati Enquirer.