CINCINNATI -- Octavious Ellis scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to help Cincinnati beat UCF 83-60 on Wednesday night.

Shaq Thomas added 13 points, Farad Cobb scored 11 and Troy Caupain and Gary Clark had 10 apiece for Cincinnati (19-9, 10-5 American), which made 33 of 51 field goals, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. The team's 64.7 field percentage was the best since coach Mick Cronin was hired in 2007.

Cobb also had six rebounds and a career-high five assists for the Bearcats.

Cincinnati closed the first half with a 16-6 run and took a 43-40 lead into the break.

A layup by Brandon Goodwin cut the UCF (12-14, 5-11) deficit to nine, 50-41, with 15 minutes remaining, but the Knights would get no closer.

Goodwin led UCF, which shot just 38 percent from the field and made 4-of-16 3-pointers, with 12 points.