COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : EAST REGIONAL : Cincinnati Strikes Quickly to Rout New Mexico State

Cincinnati took the life out of New Mexico State Sunday in little more than eight minutes.

That’s how long it took the second-seeded Bearcats to jump out to a 27-4 lead on their way to a 92-55 victory in the second round of the NCAA East Regional.

“We really expected a very physical game and thought it would end up a half-court game,” Cincinnati Coach Bob Huggins said. “We created turnovers and got going and did what we wanted defensively.”

Next up for Cincinnati, ranked No. 7 in the nation coming into the tournament, is Virginia in Thursday night’s regional semifinals.

It was apparent early that Cincinnati (26-4) would be the team moving on to East Rutherford, N.J., as the tenacious trapping defense forced seventh-seeded New Mexico State (26-8) into turnover after turnover and forced shot after forced shot.

“They really bothered us with the press and just seemed quicker than us,” New Mexico State Coach Neil McCarthy said. “I can’t remember a team performing more badly than we did today. It was unbelievable.”

Cincinnati made 10 of 15 shots--four of seven from three-point range--during the opening run while holding the Aggies to 20% shooting with nine turnovers.

Cincinnati guard Nick Van Exel called it “our biggest win all year against a good team.”