Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Loses Again to Houston 76-54

Injuries and turnovers plague the Bearcats in another defeat to the Cougars

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:47pm

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The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team lost to the Houston Cougars 76-54 on Saturday, marking their 11th consecutive defeat against their American Athletic Conference rival. The Bearcats struggled with injuries and turnovers, leading to their second-worst loss of the season. Cincinnati is now 11-11 on the year and 3-6 in Big 12 play.

Why it matters

The loss continues a troubling trend for the Bearcats, who have now dropped 11 straight games to Houston dating back to the Wes Miller era. Injuries have plagued Cincinnati throughout the season, further hampering their ability to compete with top teams in the Big 12 conference.

The details

Cincinnati was without several key players due to injuries, including Moustapha Thiam who went down with a lower-body ailment early in the first half. The Bearcats also struggled with turnovers, committing 19 in the game. Houston's defense forced Cincinnati into sloppy play, leading to the lopsided defeat. The Bearcats shot poorly from the field and the free throw line, unable to keep pace with the Cougars' balanced scoring attack.

  • The loss on Saturday, January 31, 2026 marked Cincinnati's 11th consecutive defeat to Houston.

The players

Wes Miller

The head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team.

Moustapha Thiam

A Cincinnati player who went down with a lower-body injury early in the first half.

Shon Abaev

A Cincinnati player who was unable to play in the game, which further thinned the Bearcats' rotation.

Sencire Harris

A Cincinnati player who was unable to make the rotation, contributing to the Bearcats' struggles.

Milos Uzan

A Houston player who led the Cougars with 16 points and 5 assists.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know. I haven't had a chance (to get injury information) yet. I know I just all I knew is what he couldn't go back. Shon (Abaev) would have been nice for us tonight, because he can pass over top, and when they bring two to the ball, like in the first game, his minutes were impactful, because he got it over the top of the defense.”

— Wes Miller, Head Coach, Cincinnati Bearcats

What’s next

The Bearcats will look to bounce back on Thursday, February 5th when they host West Virginia at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The takeaway

Cincinnati's struggles against Houston continue, as injuries and turnovers once again proved too much to overcome against one of the top teams in the Big 12. The Bearcats will need to find a way to get healthier and take better care of the ball if they hope to turn their season around and climb out of the conference basement.