Cincinnati @ East Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 19, 2020 ) East Carolina 57, Cincinnati 82

Cincinnati sits at No. 48 in the NET rankings after its latest overtime win over Memphis on Thursday and sits firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble according to most bracketology experts. With AAC statement games remaining against Wichita State next weekend and conference-leader Houston the following weekend, the Bearcats need to guard against a letdown when they travel to East Carolina on Sunday.

Tre Scott posted his ninth double-double of the season in a solid win against Memphis with 25 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, sinking two free throws with 10 seconds left to force overtime in the 92-86 victory. "I came back on the court and said, 'Let's win,' and I told them we weren't losing this game no matter what,' Scott said afterward. "I wasn't going to let them come in here and beat us at our house. Whatever we needed to do, whatever I needed to do, we were going to do it at our highest point." East Carolina is coming off its fourth loss in five games after Wednesday's 70-56 defeat at Tulsa. Cincinnati rolled to a 17-point halftime lead and beat the Pirates 82-57 in their first meeting on Jan. 19 behind 16 points and 11 rebounds from Scott and a defense that limited the Pirates to 33 percent shooting while forcing 19 turnovers.

TIME: Noon ET. TV: CBS Sports Network

ABOUT CINCINNATI (16-8, 9-3 AAC): The Bearcats rallied from 10 points down with six minutes left against Memphis and Jarron Cumberland (team-leading marks of 15.1 points and 4.8 assists) scored eight of his 15 points in overtime despite shooting just 1-of-7 from the field for the game. Freshman guard Mika Adams-Woods (4.9 points) poured in a career-high 14 points, knocking down three triples along the way. Scott (10.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals) tied his career high in points for the second straight game and is averaging 15.7 points on 58 percent shooting and 12.1 rebounds over his last seven games.

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (10-15, 4-8): The Pirates got 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting and three steals from junior swingman J.J. Miles (7.4 points) against Tulsa but were done in by 35 percent shooting and 17 turnovers. Sophomore Jayden Gardner had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season. The 6-7 sophomore leads the AAC in scoring (20.2 points) and free throws made per game (5.7) and is third in rebounding (9.7).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Bearcats have won five of the last six against the Pirates with the lone loss a 73-71 decision on January 5, 2019, behind 13 points and 12 rebounds by Gardner.

2. Cincinnati has played in five overtime games this season - its most in a season since playing a school-record six during the 1966-67 campaign. The Bearcats are 3-2 in overtime games this year.

3. Scott's 19 rebounds versus Houston was the most for a Cincinnati player since Cedric McGowan had 20 boards against DePaul on Jan. 4, 2006.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 76, East Carolina 61