Yancy Gates had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead four Cincinnati players in double figures scoring, and the No. 6 seed Bearcats pulled away from No. 11 seed Missouri for a 78-63 victory Thursday in their first NCAA tournament game since 2005.

Gates shot 7 for 8 from the field to lead a red-hot shooting effort from the Bearcats, who hit 52.7 percent overall and 60 percent in the second half. Dion Dixon added 16 points and six rebounds, and Cashmere Wright had 11 points and six assists for Cincinnati.

The Tigers led by as many as seven early, and Cincinnati didn't take its first lead until Larry Davis' 3-point play made it 21-19 with 9:22 left in the half.

The Bearcats stretched the lead to 15 during a span of 10:45 in which Missouri did not make a field goal, and Cincinnati never trailed again. Missouri pulled within 54-48, but the Bearcats hit five of their next six field-goal attempts to push the margin back to double digits.

Ricardo Ratliffe led Missouri with 13 points, Michael Dixon added 11, and Marcus Denmon and Laurence Bowers each had 10 points and six rebounds.

Cincinnati advances to face Big East rival Connecticut on Saturday. The Huskies won the regular-season meeting 67-59 on Feb. 27.