Guards Farad Cobb and Troy Caupain scored 15 points apiece as No. 23 Cincinnati shot 85.7 percent from the free-throw line to rebuff VCU 69-63 on Saturday before the 71st consecutive sellout crowd at Siegel Center in Richmond, Va.

Forward Gary Clark recorded 13 points and nine rebounds while forward Jacob Evans contributed nine points and eight rebounds for the Bearcats (10-2), who survived 36.2 percent shooting from the field. Caupain, who grew up in nearby Midlothian, Va., recorded four of Cincinnati's seven assists.

Guard Korey Billbury scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Rams (5-5), who lost their fourth straight game and fell to 0-5 against major-conference teams. VCU guard Melvin Johnson, who entered the game averaging 19.6 points, was held to a pair of free throws and was 0 for 11 from the field.

The Bearcats never trailed in the first half and led by as many as seven before settling for a 33-31 lead at the break. Billbury, who recorded 13 points and five rebounds in the first half, capped a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer to tie it at 24, and another from long range made it 29-29.

The Rams scored the second half's first six points and led 39-38 before Cincinnati responded with an 11-4 run. The Bearcats added a 6-0 spurt later -- capped by Clark's breakaway dunk -- that gave them a 57-47 lead with 5:27 left.

Back came VCU as guard JaQuan Lewis (13 points) drilled a 3-pointer and made three free throws on the ensuing possession. The Rams forced a 10-second violation and forward Mo Alie-Cox (10 points) sank two free throws with 2:44 left to make it 57-55. Cobb's 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining gave Cincinnati a 62-57 lead.

Billbury's 3-pointer with 31.2 seconds left cut the deficit to 64-61 before the Bearcats sealed the victory by making five of their final six free throws.