TicketsJan. 19, 2006
CINCINNATI, OH - The University of Cincinnati dropped its third straight game, and toughest of the season, falling to rival Xavier, 73-71 at sold out Cintas Center on Thursday night. The game was a roller coaster ride the last five minutes of regulation and in overtime, and the Bearcats had two chances to win the game in the last seven seconds of the extra session, only to have Devan Downey and James White miss potential game-winning shots as UC fell to 13-5 on the season. The three-game losing streak is UC's first since the Bearcats lost the final three games of the 2002-03 season.
Frustrations and close losses in this series continue to sting UC as five of the last 10 games between the Bearcats and Musketeers have been decided by two points, and XU has won all five.
Jihad Muhammad sent the game into overtime with a long three-pointer with just :05 remaining in regulation as the Bearcats rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 30 seconds to force overtime. However, Xavier scored the first five points of the extra period and never relinquished the lead, despite surviving a couple of UC shots at the end of OT.
"At the end of regulation we have ourselves another chance, but every time it was time to make a big play or grab a big rebound, Xavier did it. And that is why they deserved to win," admitted Downey, who had game-highs of 22 points, five assists, and three steals.
The Bearcats shooting and rebounding woes continue to haunt them during this tough stretch as UC was out-rebounded 56-41 and shot just 37 percent, while hitting just 5-11 free throws. Xavier, which won its seventh straight game and 13th straight at home, dominated the boards, especially in the second half, and got to the free throw line 28 times, compared to only 11 for UC, which represented a season-low. UC did not shoot a free throw in the first half and did not get to the line until 8:51 remained in the game.
During UC's three-game losing streak, the Bearcats have shot less than 35 percent from the field and been out-rebounded by 59 rebounds, an average of almost 20 per game. The Bearcats also lost for the first time all season when leading at halftime as UC held a 37-30 lead at intermission.
XU quickly cut into that in the second half, and eventually tied the game at 42-42 on a steal and lay-up by guard Dedrick Finn with 15:03 remaining. With the game tied at 46, UC went on a 7-0 run to take a 53-46 lead with 8:51 remaining on a lay-up by senior forward Eric Hicks, who finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high seven blocked shots. Xavier, who double-teamed Hicks the whole game, would not go away on its home court.
The Musketeers went on a 12-3 run over the next five minutes to take a 58-56 lead with 3:41 to go on a 12-foot jumper by Stanley Burrell, who shared team-high scoring honors with Brian Thornton with 20 points each. Thornton also added 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
"The intensity was really high. I think Sean (XU coach Miller) has a tremendous team, without question an NCAA Tournament team," said UC head coach Andy Kennedy. "We had our chances in regulation and in overtime and just did not make enough plays."
XU looked to have the game in hand, leading 64-58 with 30 seconds remaining before a Downey trey cut it to 64-61. After a pair of bonus misses by Justin Cage and Thornton of XU, Muhammad buried the long three to send the game into overtime.
"What a war. What an amazing game from start to finish," XU coach Sean Miller said after the game. "The guy (Muhammad) made a great shot at the end, so on to the next five minutes. We found our poise and went back out there and finished the game and tried to stay on course."
In the overtime, the game was tied at 71 when a touch call was whistled on Muhammad, his fifth of the game. Burrell made the second of two charity tosses and when UC came down for the potential go-ahead points, Downey missed a 18-foot jumper with :07 remaining and XU grabbed the rebound. Justin Doellman, who grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, made the second of his two free throws extending XU's lead to 73-71 with less than :04 left, but UC's last-ditch attempt came up short as White misfired at the buzzer.
White finished with 16 points for the Bearcats, his 18th consecutive game in double figures, while Cedric McGowan (11) and Muhammad (10) were two of UC's other five double figure scorers. "Xavier is a very good team and Sean has done a great job, but tonight, I think we proved we are a good team, too," Kennedy explained. "Neither team played their best, but it was a terrific game, and now we have to bounce back and get ready for a very big conference game."
The Bearcats return to Fifth Third Arena this Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22 when BIG EAST rival Rutgers comes calling for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff. But despite the disappointing and tough loss, the Bearcats picked up a believer and a fan after the game.
"I think they are headed to the NCAA Tournament," said Xavier's Miller. "They've got some great seniors and an exciting point guard. I really want them to win - they have a lot of pride."