The No. 4 seed Cincinnati hosted Virginia Tech in their first NIT game sine 2010 and pleased the Fifth Third Arena audience with an 81-72 victory to advance to round two of the tourney.
Down 33-29 at half and without a made 3-point shot, the Bearcats put 52 points on the board in the second half to record their 22nd win of the season. Virginia Tech finishes at 19-15.
In his final game at Fifth Third Arena, David DeJulius had 21 points and seven assists while Landers Nolley II added a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.