Preview: BYU Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Two Big 12 teams heading in opposite directions will meet Tuesday afternoon when the BYU Cougars visit the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. BYU (19-9), which entered the AP Top 25 earlier this season, has hit a late-season skid, losing four of its last five games. The Cougars are coming off a 79-71 loss at West Virginia on Saturday. Their offense, typically high-powered, has been inconsistent during the stretch. The Cougars will lean on guard Robert Wright, who has been a bright spot. He scored 23 points in the loss to West Virginia and is coming off a spectacular 39-point performance in a win over Colorado on Feb. 14. Wright averages 20.4 points over his last eight games. Cincinnati (16-13) has found momentum, winning four of its last five, including a dominant 91-68 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Bearcats’ defense has keyed the surge, holding three of those last five opponents under 70 points. Guard Day Day Thomas fuels Cincinnati’s attack. He erupted for 26 points in just 29 minutes against Oklahoma State and has scored in double figures in five of the last six contests. His backcourt matchup with Wright will be pivotal. The Bearcats won the first meeting this season, 78-75, in Provo on Jan. 10. Cincinnati’s Simas Lukošius hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to seal the win. For BYU, a victory is crucial to stabilize its postseason resume. For Cincinnati, which sits on the NCAA tournament bubble, a win would bolster its case and complete a regular-season sweep. Tuesday’s contest tips off at 9 p.m. EST and will be televised on ESPN2.