CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Baba Miller scored 24 points and Cincinnati used a dominant first-half run to pull away from Georgia State, securing a 74-64 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday night at a sold-out Fifth Third Arena.

A crowd of 10,009 saw the Bearcats improve to 2-0, while the Panthers fell to 0-2.

Cincinnati seized control with a 19-2 surge in the first half, turning a narrow 8-7 lead into a commanding 27-9 advantage. The run was fueled by stifling defense and efficient transition offense. The Bearcats capitalized on Georgia State’s mistakes, scoring 23 points off turnovers and outscoring the Panthers 36-14 in the paint. Cincinnati also held a 17-8 edge in fastbreak points.

Miller, a 6-foot-11 forward from Mallorca, Spain, was a force on both ends, adding three blocked shots in 30 minutes of action. His presence inside was a key factor in Cincinnati’s interior dominance.

Georgia State’s Jelani Hamilton kept his team within striking distance, scoring a game-high 26 points and dishing out four assists. Joah Chappelle added 10 points for the Panthers.

Cincinnati took a 39-30 lead into halftime and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second half. The Bearcats’ lead never dipped below eight points after the break, as they consistently answered any Georgia State push.

Day Day Thomas provided a strong supporting performance for Cincinnati with 12 points and four assists. Sencire Harris came off the bench to chip in nine points, all in the first half, to help spark the initial run.

For Georgia State, Micah Tucker scored nine points, while Anthony Enoh contributed five points and three assists.

Cincinnati will next host Dayton on Tuesday. Georgia State returns home to face Presbyterian on Monday.