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Wright leads Cincinnati over Providence 92-88

Jan 31, 2010 - 3:26 AM By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI(AP) -- Redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright scored a career-high 24 points, nine of them during a 16-1 run in the second half that swept Cincinnati to a 92-88 victory over Providence on Saturday night.

Wright, who had lost his starting job and was benched for a game, returned to the starting lineup on Saturday and steadied Cincinnati (14-7, 5-4 Big East) through a wide-open game by making nine of his 11 shots and getting five assists.

Providence (12-9, 4-5) got the back-and-forth pace it likes, but couldn't hold on to the ball during the Bearcats' decisive run. The Friars had five turnovers during the 5-minute spurt.

Cincinnati's poor free-throw shooting (20 of 41) allowed the Friars to make a late comeback. Sharaud Curry's 3 with 6.6 seconds left cut it to 91-88, but Jaquon Parker made the second of his two free throws to clinch it.

Curry finished with 27 points.