GAME NOTES: The SMU Mustangs will seek to extend an eight-game win streak as they hit the road to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in an American Athletic Conference tilt at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday.

The Mustangs come into the clash owning a 10-3 record on the season. SMU opened up AAC play on Wednesday and absolutely demolished South Florida, 83-49, to keep the win streak going.

Cincinnati has been victorious in two straight games, and three of its last four. The Bearcats took down Wagner (72-48) and NC State (76-60) in their last two outings to improve to 9-3 on the campaign, owning a 7-1 ledger at home. Assistant Larry Davis has taken over the head coach Mick Cronin, who has missed the last three games due to an unruptured aneurysm. On Friday, it was announced that Cronin will not coach the rest of the season because of a non- life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.

These two new conference rivals have met five times on the hardwood in their series history. Cincinnati owns a slight 3-2 all-time series edge after the programs split the series in the inaugural AAC voyage last season. SMU has lost all three games in Cincinnati.

SMU was simply dominant in the team's win over USF on Wednesday, as the Mustangs connected on 52 percent of their field goals, and made 26-of-33 from the free-throw line in the lopsided victory. The team's leading scorer in the blowout was Ben Moore, who netted 15 points. Keith Frazier was right behind Moore, adding in 14 points. Justin Martin chipped in with 11, and Yanick Moreira scored 10 in the win. Nic Moore contributed eight points with seven assists as the Mustangs showed their true power on New Year's Eve.

Nic Moore didn't reach double figures in the game against USF (nor did he need to), but the guard enters the clash against Cincinnati as SMU's leading scorer at 14.8 ppg. His scoring average is the best of three Mustangs in double figures this season, and his 63 assists is another team high. Moreira (12.4 ppg) comes in behind Moore in scoring, but the big man leads the way in terms of rebounding (6.7 rpg) and in blocked shots (23). Frazier rounds out the trio of double-digit scorers for SMU at 11.4 ppg. The Mustangs are netting 71.5 ppg as a unit, and are surrendering just 60.7 ppg to opponents.

Cincinnati used a strong offensive effort to down NC State in the team's last outing that included a 53.8 shooting percentage from the floor. The Bearcats also held the Wolfpack scoreless from 3-point range (0-of-5 from distance), and owned a 31-26 edge in rebounding. Shaq Thomas netted 15 points to pave the way for the Bearcats in the win, while Troy Caupain chipped in with 13 points and Octavius Ellis added 11 with seven rebounds before fouling out. Cincinnati got 26 bench points from its reserves in the one-sided victory.

The Bearcats have prided themselves more on defense this season, and it shows in the numbers. Cincinnati is allowing opponents to score just 55.0 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the floor. Meanwhile the Bearcats net just 63.0 ppg, and don't have a single player averaging a scoring total in double figures this season (Ellis leads the way at 9.6 ppg). That hasn't mattered much for Cincy, which owns a 7-1 mark at home and is netting 43.4 percent of its shots from the field.

It's possible the Bearcats will wish they had just a bit more offensive firepower when they host the Mustangs on Saturday. Cincinnati's tough defensive effort could hold at home, but SMU is on a serious roll this season, and has simply overpowered teams with that scoring prowess of late.