CHICAGO – Cincinnati basketball's non-conference portion of the schedule ended Saturday against Iowa with a comeback bid that came up short.
A familiar name helped the Hawkeyes hang on.
CJ Fredrick, a Cincinnati product and former Covington Catholic star, scored 21 points on 6 of 11 shooting to lead Iowa to a 77-70 victory at the United Center.
The Bearcats (7-5) made it difficult. They briefly took the lead late in the going after trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half.
UC senior Jarron Cumberland scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the second half and senior guard Chris McNeal's nine points, five steals and four assists off the bench mostly came as the Bearcats climbed their way back.