Cincinnati @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 27, 2019 ) Cincinnati 72, Temple 68

After an up-and-down run through its nonconference schedule, Cincinnati is beginning to show signs of life. The Bearcats seek their fourth win in five games Wednesday when they visit Temple in an American Athletic Conference affair.

Cincinnati's defense has been terrific of late, as the team has allowed 44, 54, 60 and 57 points in its last four games, respectively. "We did a great job executing our game plan," said Bearcats forward Tre Scott after collecting 16 points and 11 rebounds and helping to shut down East Carolina forward Jayden Gardner in Sunday's 25-point win. Temple had a big win of its own recently, topping Wichita State by 12 points on Wednesday, but the team was unable to ride the momentum very far as the Owls dropped a 16-point decision at SMU on Saturday. Temple shot under 33 percent from the floor in that one and committed 16 turnovers, including five by veteran guard Quinton Rose.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNews

ABOUT CINCINNATI (11-7, 4-2 AAC): The Bearcats relied on Scott's performance against ECU, but Jarron Cumberland also chipped in with 13 points and seven assists, while Jaume Sorolla notched a season-high 11 points off the bench. Those contributions proved to be important, as center Chris Vogt - previously the team's leading scorer on the season - managed just seven points, his second-lowest total of the campaign. Cumberland, who currently leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game, has also dished out at least five assists in five of the last six games.

ABOUT TEMPLE (10-7, 2-4): The Owls are led offensively by Rose, who averages 14.4 points but shoots just 36.5 percent from the field and 24.6 percent from 3-point range. Jake Forrester had a team-high 14 points against SMU and also led the squad with seven rebounds, although the Owls were outrebounded 47-32 by the Mustangs. J.P. Moorman II shot 1-of-7 from the floor in that one and is shooting just 33.3 percent over his last eight outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cincinnati won last year's matchup at Temple by four points, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the second half.

2. Scott, who averages 8.9 points and 9.1 rebounds, has five double-doubles this season.

3. Cumberland has six blocks on the season, four of which have come in the last three games.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 67, Temple 60