Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Tipoff Time: 7:00PM ET
Location: Hope Coliseum — Morgantown, West Virginia
Broadcast Information
Announcers: Rich Hollenberg and King McClure
Streaming: ESPN (TV provider login required)
Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network (Radio Affiliates) | SiriusXM Channel 383 and Streaming Channel 972 | WVU Gameday App (Apple | Android)
Radio Announcers:
Tony Caridi (PBP) and Brad Howe (analyst)Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Betting Odds
Get in on the action with our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.
- West Virginia: -2.5 points | -162 ML
- Cincinnati: +2.5 points | +134 ML
- Over/Under: 131.5 total points
(As of 10:00AM ET/January 6, 2026)
Game Preview
West Virginia returns home tonight for their Big 12 home opener, hosting Cincinnati after both teams dropped their conference openers in games that followed similar scripts.
The Mountaineers (9–5, 0–1) opened conference play Friday night at No. 3 Iowa State, where the Cyclones used a seven-minute run late in the half to seize control and never looked back, shooting 52 percent from three and pulling away for an 80–59 win. Chance Moore led WVU with 17 points in place of Brenen Lorient, while DJ Thomas added 10 off the bench. The 59 points marked West Virginia’s lowest output of the season.
Cincinnati (8–6, 0–1) enters coming off a 67–60 loss at home to No. 8 Houston, a game that stayed within reach well into the second half. The Bearcats were tied 60–60 with 3:52 remaining before going scoreless the rest of the way. Day Day Thomas scored 15, Moustapha Thiam had 13, and Baba Miller added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Defensively, the matchup profiles as one of the more rugged games on WVU’s early conference slate. Cincinnati is allowing 65.6 points per game on 39.3 percent shooting, while West Virginia has been even more restrictive, giving up 61.6 points per contest and holding opponents to 40.4 percent shooting. Neither side plays fast, and neither side gives easy looks at the rim.
For West Virginia, the challenge is navigating Cincinnati’s length. Baba Miller and Thiam anchor a frontcourt that funnels drives toward shot blockers and allows the Bearcats to stay attached to shooters. Ross Hodge emphasized ball movement as the priority, noting that clean reversals and touches in the paint are necessary — but also risky — against a defense that can turn blocked shots or loose balls into transition chances the other way.
Offensively, the Mountaineers are still searching for balance. Honor Huff continues to carry the scoring load at 16.6 points per game despite a quiet night in Ames, while Moore has settled into a steady secondary role at 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Lorient remains in concussion protocol but is progressing, with his availability still uncertain.
Cincinnati counters with a trio of double-figure scorers in Miller (13.4 points, 11.3 rebounds), Thomas (13.0 points), and Thiam (11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds). Guard Jizzle James has recently returned to the rotation, while former Mountaineer Sencire Harris remains a key perimeter defender capable of guarding either the ball or WVU’s primary scorer depending on matchup needs.
By the Numbers
Probable Starters
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Series History
Tonight’s matchup marks the 26th all-time meeting between West Virginia and Cincinnati, a series that dates back to 1941. The Mountaineers hold a narrow 13–12 advantage overall, including an 8–3 record against the Bearcats at Hope Coliseum.
The programs crossed paths regularly during their shared Big East years from 2006 to 2012, producing a run of physical games that often swung on late possessions. Since Cincinnati joined the Big 12, the matchup has kept that edge, with this being the sixth meeting between the schools as conference opponents.
West Virginia swept the season series last year, further reinforcing the home-court importance that has defined the rivalry. Cincinnati has made 11 previous trips to Morgantown, and few have been comfortable for the Bearcats.
Storylines to Watch
Both teams arrive in similar spots after conference openers that stayed manageable until one stretch shifted the balance. West Virginia returns home after a road loss where the margin grew late, while Cincinnati comes in after a game that stalled in the closing minutes despite being tied inside four minutes. How long each team can stay organized offensively matters here, especially in a game expected to be played mostly in the half court.
Cincinnati’s length around the rim and ability to shrink space has limited clean looks all season, while West Virginia has relied on ball movement and decision-making to keep possessions from bogging down. The matchup also brings familiar faces back to Morgantown, with former Mountaineers Kerr Kriisa and Sencire Harris now in Cincinnati’s rotation, adding another layer to how individual matchups may unfold. With both defenses keeping games in the low 60s, the swings are likely to come quietly — a few empty trips, one extended run, or a late stretch where execution slips just enough to tip the game.
Prediction
The Mountaineers have been more consistent defensively, and they’ve looked more organized at home than they did in the neutral-site losses or the opener at Iowa State. Cincinnati can make this uncomfortable, especially around the rim, but they’ve had trouble generating offense late when games slow down.
This feels like a game that stays close most of the way and swings on a short run late in the game. If West Virginia takes care of the ball and doesn’t give Cincinnati easy transition chances, they should be able to score enough to get through it.
West Virginia 66, Cincinnati 61
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