Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats basketball exhibition win at Michigan Wolverines

Start the hype, the Cincinnati Bearcats are 1-0 in exhibition play.

UC downed the preseason No. 7 Michigan Wolverines Oct. 17, 100-98, holding off a late Michigan run. UC led by as many as 20 in the first half, but Michigan battled back and Will Tchetta's triple with four seconds left pulled them within two. However, the Bearcats inbounded to freshman Shon Abaev, who ran out the clock.

The Bearcats had five players in double figures with Abaev, Ker Kriisa and Moustapha Thiam all finishing with 15 points. Sincere Harris added 13 and Baba Miller had 11.

They outshot Michigan 55% to 48% but the Wolverines made 41-of-48 free throws to stay close. UC was just 22-of-35. UC had the edge from the perimeter with 12-of-31, while Michigan was 9-for-32.

Five different Bearcats hit triples.

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg proved why he was the No. 1 transfer in the portal, finishing with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Michigan outrebounded UC 33-29.

Wes Miller would actually prefer you didn't start the hype over this one. In the press conference previewing this game, he mentioned no one on Selection Sunday remembered their win over Ohio State last October 80-62.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Michigan basketball was pretty good opening act

Friday's Crisler Arena basketball exhibition for the No. 7 Michigan Wolverines vs. UC was a warm-up for a football weekend in Ann Arbor with the maize-and-blue facing the Washington Huskies in "The Big House" the following day at noon.

Those who came for indoor entertainment got a competitive game worthy of March, but in October. The Bearcats pulled away with an 18-point lead by halftime with 52 points, but the Wolverines aggressively chewed back in it with 64 second-half points.

There were 50,739 in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome April 4, 1992, when the Cincinnati Bearcats and Michigan Wolverines last played in the NCAA Final Four. Friday's exhibition attendance was 10,166.

Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats at Michigan Wolverines

Cincinnati Bearcats used 10-man rotation

Friday's starters in Ann Arbor were Day Day Thomas, Shon Abaev, Kerr Kriisa, Baba Miller and Moustapha Thiam, but five minutes into the game, Wes Miller had a new five in the contest.

Dominant opening half for Cincinnati Bearcats

UC led at the break 52-34 and were up as many as 20 late in the first half. They had 21 points off turnovers and made seven treys, with Abaev hitting three for the Bearcats and finishing with 11 points. The Bearcats made their run in the second portion of the first half on a Baba Miller hook shot and never trailed from there.

Though an exhibition, the 52 points vs. Michigan in the first half was the most since Rutgers scored 57 on them last Feb. 27 and Purdue had 51 last Jan. 25.

Again, Michigan made up for the first half sleepwalk with 64 second stanza points.

Cincinnati Bearcats, Michigan Wolverines injuries

UC has Jalen Haynes out indefinitely with a lower leg injury and Baylor transfer Jalen Celestine did not play. Lucas Atauri from Brazil has not yet been medically cleared.

Michigan played without two bigs, 7-foot-3 Aday Mara and 6-foot-9 Morez Johnson Jr.

Next exhibition for UC hoops

It's another early ego check for the Bearcats as they'll be in Fayetteville next Friday, Oct. 24, against the 14th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks coached by John Calipari. Both Michigan and Arkansas were Sweet 16 teams last spring.

The UC vs. Arkansas game will tip at 8 p.m. (Eastern) on SEC+.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How did Cincinnati Bearcats basketball beat Michigan in exhibition?