TicketsBearcats Roll To Second Straight Exhibition Win
UC now looking to season-opener vs. Valparaiso on Nov. 19
Contact: Brian Teter
11/13/2004
Jason Maxiell had 20 points and eight rebounds vs. Southern Indiana. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? For the second time in five nights, the University of Cincinnati led wire to wire as the Bearcats cruised to a 82-62 exhibition win over Division II power Southern Indiana before 10,326 fans at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday night. UC finished the preseason at 2-0 after dismantling Northern Kentucky on Nov. 8, 102-63.
UC had four players in double figures against the nation?s No. 1-ranked team in Division II, led by the power forward duo of Jason Maxiell and Eric Hicks for the second straight exhibition. Maxiell scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Hicks had his second consecutive double with 13 points and 19 rebounds.
Junior forward Armein Kirkland led all scorers with 22 points, including 4-7 from three-point range. Freshman forward Roy Bright hit double digits for the second game in a row with 10 points.
The Bearcats were impressive most of the game?s first 26 minutes. The Bearcats raced to a 20-6 lead just 6:25 into the game and were never threatened. UC led 46-27 at the half thanks to 50 percent shooting from the field and a 28-16 advantage on the boards. The lead grew to 26 points early in the second half as the Bearcats started with a 12-5 run in the first 3:22 of the stanza.
?These games can be a learning experience for us,? said Maxiell. ?The freshmen can get in and get on the same page with everyone else. Personally, I can work on my game in trying to get it to the next level.?
Hicks and Maxiell have been dominant in the two preseason games, however, Kirkland?s effort on Saturday was a welcome sight. After going 0-8 from the field against Northern Kentucky, Kirkland was 9-15 and hit four long-range treys. His overall game was solid as well, as the 6-8 swingman added six rebounds and three assists.
?I think we all realize how capable Armein is, and I felt his attention to detail this week was better,? admitted UC head coach Bob Huggins. ?He really had good shot preparation and played a good game.?
Unfortunately for the banged up Bearcats, the last 14 minutes was a struggle as UC managed just 20 points the rest of the way and shot just 36 percent from the field in the second half, including just 1-12 from three-point range.
?I think it is great for Division II programs to be able to showcase that we are a little bit better than people think we are,? said Southern Indiana head coach Rick Herdes. ?Tonight was a tale of rebounding. We went against men today and we looked like boys.?
UC had a few players playing with ailments, including point guards Chadd Moore (sore back) and Jihad Muhammad (thumb). Muhammad was 0-8 from the field, including 0-6 from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Nick Williams, who missed a month after thumb surgery in August returned to action against USI, but shot only 1-7 from the field. He did add four assists.
?I think we always have to play hard. We have moments when we play good, but if we play hard all the time, we can get a lot more done,? added starting point guard Chadd Moore.
The Bearcats open the 2004-05 season on Friday, November 19 hosting defending Mid-Continent Conference champion Valparaiso. Game time at Fifth Third Arena is 8:00 p.m. EST.
GAMES NOTES
UC?s opener vs. Valparaiso matches the two programs in Division I who have won more conference titles (9) than any other program in the nation over the past 10 years.
Tickets are available for the UC-Purdue game on Nov. 27 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Call the UC Ticket Office at 513-556-CATS.