Troy Caupain's team-high 17 points helped Cincinnati outlast Nebraska in semifinals of Barclays Center Classic. Bearcats will face George Washington or Tennessee next after 65-61 victory Friday. (Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer)
BROOKLYN -- Troy Caupain's 17 points led all Cincinnati players as the No. 24 Bearcats improved to 6-0 on the season, defeating Nebraska, 65-61, in the semifinals of the Barclays Center Classic on the home floor of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
With the win, Cincinnati moves on to the championship game of the Thanksgiving weekend tournament, where they will await either George Washington or Tennessee Saturday afternoon.
"As the game went on, we were able to score some points," said Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin. "Give Nebraska credit, they made nothing easy. They had us in playing in circles the first half."
Cincinnati outrebounded the Cornhuskers (4-2) 39-29, including a 16-7 margin on the offensive glass. In addition to Caupain, Shaq Thomas scored 14 points while Octavius Ellis fell one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine boards.
"Our big guys started to assert themselves," Cronin stated. "We're not very good when they can't score inside for us, and they did that in the second half."
Tai Webster paced Nebraska and all scorers, finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds on a night where the Huskers were hampered by senior forward Shavon Shields' foul trouble, which eliminated him from the game after 20 minutes and 14 points to his credit.
Nebraska will face the loser of the George Washington-Tennessee matchup in Saturday's consolation game, which tips off at 12:30 p.m.
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