PHILADELPHIA — Holding Jarron Cumberland to a single point in a half is impressive.
But it only means so much if you can’t keep the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year in check the rest of the way.
And when the University of Cincinnati Bearcats needed their star most, the senior more than rose to the occasion.
Cumberland closed with 21 of his 22 points after intermission, sparking Cincinnati as it finished strong to escape the Liacouras Center with an 89-82 win Wednesday night. The Bearcats turned in their second-highest offensive output of the season despite matching up against a top-30 defense in the Temple Owls, putting five different players in double figures and shooting 26-of-50 from the field.