Leonard Stokes (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Leonard Stokes is not shooting the ball as often or as well as he did early in the season. But the University of Cincinnati junior isn't panicking. After all, the 13th-ranked Bearcats have won 12 straight games by an average of 26.3 points.

        “We're 12-1, so it's not like we're 5-5 and I'm not shooting,” Stokes said. “As long as we're winning, I don't have any problems. I just want to win. If I have to shoot a lot, then that's what I'll do.”

        Stokes (11.8 ppg) is UC's No.2 scorer behind Steve Logan (22.5); they are the only Bearcats averaging in double figures.

        However, over the past five games, Stokes has averaged just 8.0 points, and he has scored in single digits four consecutive games for the first time since last January. After the first eight games this season, he was averaging 14.3 points.

        With a week in Cincinnati before the Bearcats begin Conference USA play Saturday at East Carolina, Stokes planned to spend extra time working on his jumper.

        “I know I'm struggling a bit ... ” he said. “I haven't shot the ball as much the last couple of games. I have to concentrate on being aggressive again and taking the shots that I'm used to taking. I don't want to force anything.”

        Said coach Bob Huggins: “There are a lot of ways Leonard Stokes can help us win, and it doesn't have to be standing behind that (3-point) line shooting the ball.”

        UC relies on Stokes defensively and for rebounding, in addition to scoring. He averaged 5.0 rebounds over the first eight games but just 2.0 over the last five.

        Senior Immanuel McElroy has picked up some of the slack. McElroy has averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists over the past eight games.

        “If I see he's not having a good night, I try to pick it up and attack and get guys open,” McElroy said. “He hasn't been down.”

        Logan and McElroy both said they tell Stokes to keep shooting.

        “I think it's all mental with him,” Logan said. “He thinks too much out there. It's not physical; he's working.

        “We need him. He's a big part of our offense and our defense. We need him to make shots, we need him to rebound and we need him to defend. There should never be a night where he goes out and doesn't do at least two of those things.”

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