Cincinnati Routs American 79-53 in Season Opener
The Bearcats won their seventh straight season opener, despite losing Jayden Hastings to an injury in the opening minutes.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Cincinnati defeated American 79-53 on Monday night in its season opener. Jayden Hastings was injured in the opening minutes of the game.
Why it matters
The win extends Cincinnati's streak of season-opening victories to seven and gives the team an early statement on the boards, where it won the rebounding battle 48-32.
Cincinnati shot just 8-27 from outside but still won by 26 points, with nine players scoring at least five points. The severity of Jayden Hastings's injury has not been disclosed.
The players
Cincinnati Bearcats
The University of Cincinnati's men's basketball program, a longtime member of the Big 12 Conference's rivals and a fixture of the NCAA Tournament.
Tyler Tejada
A Cincinnati guard who led the team with 13 points and five rebounds in the season opener.
The details
Tyler Tejada and MJ Collins each scored 13 points for Cincinnati. American was held to 20 points in the second half as the Bearcats pulled away, with MJ Collins scoring only three points in the first half before picking up his output after halftime.
Timeline
Monday night: Cincinnati defeats American 79-53 in its season opener.
Thursday at 7 p.m. ET: Cincinnati plays Green Bay.
Season Trajectory
The win extends Cincinnati's run of seven straight season-opening victories, continuing a pattern of strong starts to the campaign. Early-season results like this one help set the tone for the team's standing as the schedule moves into a Thursday matchup with Green Bay.
Fantasy managers tracking Tyler Tejada and MJ Collins will see both players post 13 points in the opener. The next game against Green Bay on Thursday gives a first look at whether the Bearcats can sustain the same shot-making profile over a full contest.
The takeaway
Cincinnati's rebounding edge and depth scoring, with nine players reaching five points, suggest the team can win without relying on outside shooting. Following the Thursday game against Green Bay will show whether that formula holds.
What happens next
Cincinnati plays Green Bay on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Further reading
For more on the Bearcats' schedule and roster, see Cincinnati Basketball.
