Thirteenth-ranked Cincinnati scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to surge to a 29-24 victory over Hawai'i tonight at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors had built a 24-10 lead in the fourth quarter.

But Brandon Underwood's 20-yard interception return, Jake Rogers' 44-yard field goal and a safety closed the Bearcats to 24-22.

Following the free kick, the Bearcats gained possession at their 31.

Dustin Grutza, who replaced starter Tony Pike in the fourth quarter, then threw to Mardy Gilyard along the right sideline. Gilyard slipped a would-be tackler at the UH 35 and raced untouched to the end zone for a 29-24 lead with 4:42 to play.

Cincinnati's comeback thwarted the Warriors' efforts to disrupt the Bowl Championship Series system.

The Bearcats (11-2) were guaranteed a berth in a BCS bowl as the Big East champion.

UH, which finished the regular season 7-6, will play in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

The Warriors, who trailed 10-3 at the intermission, scored two touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second half to take a 17-10 lead.

A 60-yard pass from Greg Alexander to Malcolm Lane set up David Farmer's 1-yard run to tie the score at 10.

On the ensuing kickoff, UH's Guyton Galdeira blasted John Goebel, forcing a fumble. Jayson Rego scooped up the loose ball and ran to the Cincinnati 5.

Three plays later, from the 2, Alexander faked a handoff and shoveled a pass to wideout Malcolm Lane in the end zone.

The Warriors extended their lead to 24-10 on Jon Medeiros' first career touchdown catch.

But the Bearcats came back, closing to 24-20 on Underwood's interception return and Rogers' field goal.

Then they made it 24-22 when linebacker Corey Smith forced Daniel Libre to fumble, with Libre recovering deep in the end zone for a safety.

Spurred by timely and key plays, the Bearcats took a 10-3 lead at intermission.

This was supposed to be a matchup between high-powered passing attacks. But that production did not materialize in a defensive-minded opening half.

The Bearscats constructed a 10-0 lead thanks to Rogers' 53-yard field goal, tying a career-best for distance, and a touchdown on a second-chance opportunity.

The Warriors had difficulty moving against the Bearcats' tough perimeter defense.

Their first drive was doomed early when defensive end Connor Barwin sacked Alexander for an 11-yard loss. It was the 11th sack of the season for Barwin, who was a tight end the previous three seasons and a basketball power forward during his first two years at Cincinnati.

Barwin also sabotaged the Warriors' second possession.

On third-and-2 from the UH 37, Libre took a handoff on a stretch play to the left. Barwin crashed through the block and tackled Libre 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the Warriors to punt.

Sometimes the Warriors' problems were self-inflicted. Later, on third down, slotback Michael Washington failed to catch Alexander's pass for an apparent first down.

The Warriors' bright moments proved to be only a flicker. In the second quarter, Rogers attempted a field goal from 40 yards. Antwan "Tua" Mahaley soared to make the block. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian feigned allowing the ball to roll dead, then picked it up and raced to the right for a 37-yard return to the Cincinnati 48.

But on the ensuing play, defensive end Lamonte Nelms raced in from the right side and hit Alexander as he set up to pass. Alexander fumbled and the Bearcats recovered the ball at the UH 48.

The Bearcats drove to the UH 3, leading to Rogers' field goal from 20 yards.

But on the attempt, Mahaley, who jumped for the block, landed on a Cincinnati player. The officials ruled it was an unsportsmanlike penalty, giving the Bearscats the option of a first down at the 1. They chose to discount the field goal. On the next play, Tony Pike faked a handoff and threw to a wide-open Delbert Ferguson in the end zone. Rogers' PAT kick made it 10-0 with 3:09 to play in the first half.

The Warriors then drove to the Bearcat 11, and summoned Dan Kelly, who had missed five of his past six kicks. This time Kelly was true from 29 yards, closing the Warriors to 10-3 with six seconds left before the intermission.