Cincinnati holds off Texas 65-59 in NCAA tourney

By Beth Rucker

Associated Press

Published: Friday, March 16 2012 12:50 p.m. MDT

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Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin yells to his players in the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Texas on Friday, March 16, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.

Mark Humphrey, Associated Press

Summary

Yancy Gates had 15 points and 10 rebounds as Cincinnati withstood a late rally by Texas to win 65-59 on Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament's East Regional.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Yancy Gates had 15 points and 10 rebounds as Cincinnati withstood a late rally by Texas to win 65-59 on Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament's East Regional.

The sixth-seeded Bearcats (25-10) jumped out to a 16-2 lead while Texas opened the game 1 of 14 and hit 16 percent for the entire first half.

After trailing 31-17 at halftime, the Longhorns attacked, hitting five of their first seven from 3-point range.

With 3:44 to play, Texas' Jonathan Holmes hit a layup to tie it at 52, but the Longhorns would get no closer. Gates hit a shot over Clint Chapman's head with 1:11 to give Cincinnati a 58-52 lead, and the Bearcats hit five free throws in the final 36 seconds.

J'Covan Brown led No. 11 seed Texas (20-14) with 19 points, and Chapman had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

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