What we learned from Cincinnati Bearcats Senior Day blowout of West Virginia

Hoping to send their veteran players out on top on Senior Day, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats painted Fifth Third Arena red and routed West Virginia Saturday 92-56.

The Bearcats hit an extra gear in the second half with 56 points, equaling WVU's game total.

Dan Skillings Jr. led four Bearcats in double figures with 17 points, John Newman III had 14, Jamille Reynolds 13 and Simas Luko?ius 12 as 11,914 watched the regular season finale.

"It was like a hot knife going through butter in a lot of the one-on-one match-ups," West Virginia interim Josh Eilert said.

It was UC's most convincing win to date in the Big 12 and West Virginia's worst league loss of the season.

As the final minutes ticked away, the bloodthirsty Bearcats even executed an unlikely alley-oop to 6-foot guard Day Day Thomas.

"My mind automatically thought give it to him and he's going to give it back," Skillings Jr. said of the lob. "I threw it up and it was lit. That was an amazing time right there!"

It was the final regular season home game for grad students John Newman III and Ody Oguama, plus walk-ons Chase Kirkwood and Landen Long.

The Bearcats finish the regular season at 18-13 (7-11 in the Big 12) with West Virginia dropping to 9-22 (4-14 Big 12). They will meet again in the Big 12 tournament after Kansas State knocked off No. 6 Iowa State 65-58 to secure the No. 10 seed and a Wednesday game.

5 takeaways from UC's Senior Day swan song

1. Finally, a Bearcat Big 12 blowout

The Bearcats have had double-digit leads in several games only to see the advantage slip away.

With a 14-point lead two minutes before halftime, West Virginia cut the deficit to seven at the break, 36-29. The Bearcats then got as hot as their red uniforms, shooting 70% in the second half to put away the Mountaineers by 36 points. It was their fourth victory by 30 or more of the season and first since they downed Bryant by 32 on Dec. 12.

"To have a night where you're able to push out a lead in the second half, that was good to see," UC coach Wes Miller said. "I believe we'll have a lot more nights like that in Cincinnati in the future. I was pleased mainly for our guys. They've had some brutal nights over the last eight, nine weeks."

2. Newman III takes a bow

A starter for all but two games of his Bearcat career, John Newman III was the last to be introduced on Senior Day. He responded with a 14-point, six rebound, four assist game, his third straight in double figures.

"I think my vocabulary is very extensive, but I don't even have the words to describe it," Newman said. "It was just pure joy. The mission's not done. I came to this school for a reason following Coach Wes and I wanted to leave a legacy here. I could feel the love. It was just a special moment."

3. Oguama = consummate team player

A starter most of last season and for seven games this season, Oguama was back in the lineup for his regular-season finale. He played less than two minutes before giving way to top scorer Skillings Jr. He returned near the end and scored.

"The role that he's had to play since Jamille (Reynolds) and Aziz (Bandaogo) got eligible is as important to the dynamic on this team as anything I've ever seen a player accept or sacrifice in my 13 years as a head coach," Miller said.

Walk-ons Landen Long (3-pointer) and Chase Kirkwood (two free throws) also ended their home careers in the scorebook.

4. Skillings Jr. Senior Day?

Skillings delivered 17 points and had two of UC's five blocks. He was asked about a Senior Day, something you probably won't see at Fifth Third Arena.

"I want Dan Skillings to be drafted before his damn Senior Day!" Miller said. "His goal's got to be bigger than getting to Senior Night. I'd like to have the same emotions I'm having right now about John Newman and Ody Oguama at the NBA Draft watching Dan Skillings get drafted."

Replied Skillings, "That's what I was going to say. I don't know what my future holds, but I'm going to keep working."

5. Kenyon Martin, Bob Huggins on big screen

UC Hall of Famer Kenyon Martin was with his son, Kamron, taking a visit Friday and he also spoke to the team. Saturday, the retired No. 4 was getting pictures with fellow UC Hall of Famer Corie Blount and being acknowledged on the scoreboard.

Former UC and WVU coach Bob Huggins was also spotted in a private box wearing red. He briefly waved to the crowd. On Wednesday, Huggins served as the parent for Mountaineer players Jesse Edwards and Kerr Kriisa on their Senior Day.

"I wanted to coach at Cincinnati because Bob Huggins and Mick Cronin coached here and the players that played for them, I watched that," Miller said. "It made me want to coach here. To have Coach Huggins back, I did not know he wore red. I love to hear that!"

Next game

The Bearcats play on the opening day of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City on Tuesday, again vs. West Virginia, The game will be at 2 p.m. Central/3 p.m. Eastern on Big 12 Now/ESPN+.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Looking at how UC Bearcats basketball blew out WVU on Senior Day