Cobb lifts Cincinnati to 56-50 win over SMU

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Farad Cobb scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half and Cincinnati's defense dictated play in a 56-50 win over SMU on Saturday.

Cobb scored the first nine points of an 11-0 run when the Bearcats (10-3, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) turned a four-point deficit into a 37-30 lead they never relinquished.

SMU (10-4 1-1), which had won eight straight, entered the game averaging 71.5 points a game while Cincinnati was allowing 55. The Mustangs got within three with 28 seconds left but Troy Caupain made four free throws to secure the win.

Octavius Ellis hit 6 of 7 shots to add 13 for Cincinnati. Ryan Manuel hit 7 of 8 shots to lead SMU with 14.

The Bearcats won their third straight under associate head coach Larry Davis, who will lead the team the rest of the season while Mick Cronin deals with a health issue. Cronin said on Friday he would function as a "general manager."