Cincinnati's ability to win close games has triggered a late-season surge by the Bearcats.

They have won five of their last six games after a 70-69 victory at Tulsa on Wednesday night. Cincinnati (8-8, 6-5) will host Tulane (9-10, 4-10) in an American Athletic Conference game Friday.

"I told (the players) after the game," Bearcats coach John Brannen said, "'There's nothing wrong with winning by 10 or 15. I'd like to sit down and just watch the last two minutes. But for some reason we're just not there yet."