Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Looks to Extend Winning Streak Against Utah Utes

Cincinnati aims to win its third straight conference game against the struggling Utah Utes.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team is looking to extend its winning streak to three games as they take on the Utah Utes on Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati has found some momentum in the back half of conference play and is an 84.5% favorite to win the game according to ESPN's Matchup Predictor. The Bearcats' offense has started to click in recent games, with players like Jalen Celestine and Jizzle James finding their shooting touch.

Why it matters

This game represents a timely tune-up for Cincinnati before they face a tough final stretch of the season, including four Quad 1 opponents and three teams ranked in the top 20 of the NET Rankings. A convincing win over the struggling Utah team could help the Bearcats build confidence and momentum heading into that gauntlet.

The details

Cincinnati is currently ranked 51st in the country on KenPom and is coming off back-to-back 20-plus point wins. The Bearcats' offense has improved significantly, posting a 65.7% effective field goal rate over the past two games. Meanwhile, Utah is last in the Big 12 at 9-15 overall and 1-10 in conference play, with one of the worst defenses in the league. Cincinnati should be able to take advantage of Utah's lack of size and poor rebounding to secure a double-digit victory.

  • The game tips off at 12:00 PM ET on Sunday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Wes Miller

The head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team.

Jalen Celestine

A Cincinnati player who has settled into his role and is shooting the ball well in recent games.

Jizzle James

A Cincinnati player who has also found his rhythm and is contributing to the team's improved offensive performance.

Terrance Brown

The leading scorer for the Utah Utes, averaging 19.9 points per game in Big 12 play.

Don McHenry

A guard for the Utah Utes who is averaging 16.2 points per game in conference play.

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What they’re saying

“It's the first time we've just had everybody start to shoot the ball and play offensively in sync. You know, we're a bunch of guys who are all playing within a rhythm. It hadn't happened all year, and it's happened in the last two games, and it's been nice to see.”

— Wes Miller, Head Coach (SI.com)

What’s next

If Cincinnati can secure a convincing win over Utah, they will have a game-less six-day stretch to gain more confidence and get healthy before facing their toughest stretch of the season. The Bearcats play four of their final five games against Quad 1 opponents, including three teams ranked in the top 20 of the NET Rankings.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial opportunity for Cincinnati to build momentum and confidence before facing a daunting final stretch of the season. A dominant performance against the struggling Utah Utes could be just what the Bearcats need to make a late-season push for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.