HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Cincinnati 65, Southern Methodist 57: Justin Jackson had 17 points, six rebounds, five blocks and five steals as the Bearcats edged the visiting Mustangs in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Sean Kilpatrick added 13 points and six rebounds for Cincinnati (12-2), which forced 11 second-half turnovers. Shaquille Thomas and Jermaine Sanders each added 10 points for the Bearcats.

Markus Kennedy led Southern Methodist (10-3) with 12 points and nine rebounds. SMU, which started the week second nationally in field-goal percentage defense, held Cincinnati to 36.5 percent shooting but never got closer than four points in the second half.

The Mustangs held Cincinnati scoreless for nearly six minutes during a 12-0 run for a brief 18-11 lead, but Cincinnati answered with a 10-0 run - getting the last five points from Jackson - for a 26-22 lead with just under three minutes left in the first half. Sanders hit two 3-pointers in the last 2:04 to give the Bearcats a 32-30 halftime lead.

SMU had five turnovers in the first five minutes of the second half and Kilpatrick's layup pushed Cincinnati ahead 48-39 with 10:51 left. Ben Moore's two free throws pulled SMU within 55-51 with about four minutes left but the Bearcats used a 10-3 run to build a double-digit lead in the final minute.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati has held its last 21 opponents to fewer than 70 points, extending the nation's longest active streak. ... The Bearcats have won 13 straight home games, tying the program's longest streak under eighth-year coach Mick Cronin. ... SMU outrebounded the Bearcats 32-30 and has won on the boards in 12 of its 13 games.