Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Shaq Thomas picked up 15 points as Cincinnati took down NC State, 76-60, in an inter-conference clash on Tuesday.

Troy Caupain contributed 13 with four rebounds for the Bearcats (9-3), who won for absent head coach Mick Cronin (medical). Octavius Ellis added 11 points and seven rebounds for the victorious visitors.

Anthony Barber had 15 points for the Wolfpack (10-4), while Kyle Washington posted 10 with six boards in the setback.

Cincy led 12-4 in the early stages and 20-8 on a Coreontae Deberry bucket just over eight minutes in.

Farad Cobb's basket sent the visitors to intermission up 41-26.

Gary Clark's easy bucket provided Cincinnati with a 58-39 advantage in the middle portion of the second half, but NC State made a brief charge and closed within 62-52 after Ralston Turner's three-point play inside of five minutes to play.

However, the Bearcats scored seven of the next eight points and led by 16 with 2:18 left on a Jermaine Sanders layup.