Cincinnati stuns No. 8 Kansas in Big 12 showdown

Moustapha Thiam's 28 points lead Bearcats to 84-68 upset victory

Feb. 22, 2026 at 1:55am

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Moustapha Thiam scored 28 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as the Cincinnati Bearcats upset the 8th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks 84-68 in a Big 12 Conference matchup on Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas. Baba Miller added 18 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, while Jalen Celestine chipped in 14 points and 8 boards for Cincinnati, who won their fourth straight game. Flory Bidunga led Kansas with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, but the Jayhawks lost for the second time in their last three contests.

Why it matters

This was a significant upset in the Big 12 Conference, as the Bearcats took down a top-10 ranked Kansas team on the road. Cincinnati has now won four straight games and is starting to build momentum, while Kansas has lost two of its last three after an eight-game winning streak, potentially opening the door for other teams to challenge for the Big 12 title.

The details

Cincinnati used a 17-2 run in the second half to break open a close game, with Celestine scoring 8 points and Thomas adding 5 in the decisive stretch that gave the Bearcats a 76-60 lead with under 3 minutes to play. The Bearcats outscored Kansas 48-34 in the second half and 23-10 over the final 6:23 to seal the victory. Thiam hit a key 3-pointer to give Cincinnati a 61-56 lead after the game was tied at 49-49 earlier in the half.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas.

The players

Moustapha Thiam

A key player for the Cincinnati Bearcats, scoring 28 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the upset win over Kansas.

Baba Miller

Contributed 18 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds for Cincinnati in the victory.

Jalen Celestine

Added 14 points and 8 rebounds for the Bearcats, including 8 points during Cincinnati's decisive 17-2 second half run.

Flory Bidunga

Led the Kansas Jayhawks with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

Darryn Peterson

Scored 17 points for Kansas in the defeat.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been locked in and focused from the start to go into Kansas and get this big win. The guys really stepped up when we needed them to.”

— Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati Player

What’s next

Cincinnati will look to build on this upset victory as they continue their Big 12 Conference schedule, while Kansas will try to bounce back from the loss and regain their footing in the league standings.

The takeaway

This game showcased Cincinnati's ability to compete with and defeat a top-10 opponent on the road, demonstrating the Bearcats' potential to be a factor in the Big 12 race. For Kansas, the loss raises questions about their consistency and ability to maintain their position as one of the conference's elite teams.