No. 16 Cincinnati 69, Central Florida 51: Sean Kilpatrick scored 19 points as the host Bearcats defeated the Knights in an American Athletic Conference contest to post their 11th consecutive victory.

Justin Jackson tied a career high with seven blocks and also contributed 12 points and four steals for Cincinnati (18-2, 7-0). The first-place Bearcats are one game ahead of defending national champion Louisville in the conference race.

Calvin Newell scored 12 points and Staphon Blair added 11 points for Central Florida (9-8, 1-5), which lost its fourth straight contest. Leading scorer Isaiah Sykes had just nine points on 2-of-12 shooting and also committed five of the Knights’ 14 turnovers.

Cincinnati led by three at halftime but boosted the lead to 55-35 on Troy Caupain’s jumper near the midway point of the second half. The Knights pulled within 13 four different times but didn’t make a field goal over the final four-plus minutes to conclude an outing in which they shot 38.5 percent from the field.

Jackson blocked five shots in the first half and the Bearcats led by as many as nine before settling for a 30-27 lead at the break. Kilpatrick scored seven points as Cincinnati opened the second half with an 18-5 run to take a 16-point lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bearcats have allowed fewer than 70 points in 27 consecutive games. … Sykes suffered a head injury in Central Florida’s previous game against Southern Methodist last Saturday. … Cincinnati F Jermaine Lawrence (toe) missed his fifth straight contest.