Cincinnati 90, Boston U. 52

PITTSBURGH, March 15 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Bearcats, hoping to end a 40-year national title drought, got 27 points from Steve Logan Friday night and crushed Boston University, 90-52, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region.

Logan scored 23 of his points in the first half.

Cincinnati (31-3), the team with the most wins in the tournament this season, jumped to a 14-2 lead and never looked back, racing out to a 43-16 halftime advantage.

"In our three practices, I thought we looked good," Cincinnati Coach Bob Huggins said. "Tonight we shot the ball well. Our defense was really working, we played very well today, except for rebounding."

The Bearcats' fifth straight victory was the 500th of Huggins' coaching career. They face UCLA in the second round.

Rashad Bell scored 16 points and Billy Collins 13 for Boston University (22-10), which shot 27 percent from the field.

"My disappointment in this game tonight is more for the kids. We can play better than we played and as their coach, that's what's disheartening," Terriers coach Dennis Wolff said. "Early in the game, we got some good looks and what you need to do is make some of those shots, which we couldn't do."

Cincinnati scored early and often as Logan singlehandedly outdistanced the Terriers in the first half. Leading 17-8, the Bearcats scored 26 of the next 34 points for a 43-16 halftime advantage.

Logan scored 18 of his team's 20 points during one stretch, hitting four three-pointers in the process.

"I'm the point guard on this team, so I'm looking to pass first and shoot later," said Logan, who had eight assists. "I'm not going to force it, I'm there to get the ball to my teammates. But when I get an open look, I'm going to shoot it."

"He hit a lot of good shots, long three-pointers," Terriers guard Chaz Carr guard. "You just have to play as hard as you can against him. But he hit some good shots."

Field Williams scored 16 points, including four from behind the arc, and Immanuel McElroy netted 14 and 11 rebounds for Cincinnati, which was nine of 18 from three-point range and 53 percent overall.

The Bearcats, who reached the West Region semifinals last season before losing to Stanford, are playing in their 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament. But they have not reached the Final Four since 1992.