TicketsNov. 1, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
STORYLINES:
- The University of Cincinnati men's basketball teams in preparation for its 107th regular season, wraps up the exhibition porition of its slate, hosting the Bellarmine Knights at Fifth Third Arena.
- Head coach Mick Cronin begins his second season directing his alma mater after taking over the program in March 2006. Last season, Cronin lead the Bearcats to a 11-19 overall record.
- Tonight's exhibition game vs. Bellarmine is the Bearcats' final tune-up before the regular season opens with the inaugural Peggy Cronin Classic on Nov. 9-11.
- The Bearcats will take on Bellarmine for the first time since meeting during the regular season in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.
- Cincinnati, behind a solid all-around game from sophomore guard Denota Vaughn and a combined 25 points from big men duo Adam Hrycaniuk and Anthony McClain held off Northern Kentucky, 76-71, in its exhibition opener on Wednesday night.
THE OPENING TIP: The University of Cincinnati will play its second exhibition of the 2007-08 season when it hosts Division II Bellarmine on Saturday night (Nov. 3) in Fifth Third Arena. Tip-off between the Bearcats and Knights is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. UC, which finished its inaugural season under the tutelage of head coach Mick Cronin 11-19, opened exhibition play with a come-from-behind 76-71 win over Northern Kentucky on Wednesday night. Bellarmine returns eight letterwinners from last season's squad which finished 12-15 overall.
ABOUT BELLARMINE: The Knights have eight letterwinners back from last season's 12-15 campaign and are led by third year head coach Scott Davenport. Bellarmine is led by 6-8 forward Dzaflo Larkai, a native of London, England and the Knights' top returning scorer with 13.0 points per game. The Knights also feature 6-4 senior Adam Brames who averaged 12.0 points per game. Head coaches in the Great Lakes Valley Conference placed the Knights last in the East Division in its preseason poll and 13th of 14 overall.
SEVENTH YEAR FOR DIVISION II ACTION: Prior to 2001-02, preseason basketball games featured touring foreign teams and amateur club squads from the U.S. An NCAA rule was implemented to permit a Division I team to schedule exhibition contests against Division II or Division III teams.
107TH CAMPAIGN: The 2007-08 season will be Cincinnati's 107th year of basketball competition. The school has compiled a 1,531-887 record for a .633 percentage.
TALKING ABOUT THE BEARCATS: The 2007-08 Bearcats return six letterwinners and four starters from last season's squad that finished 11-19 overall and 2-14 in the BIG EAST Conference. Sophomore guard Deonta Vaughn (14.5 ppg) and senior forward John Williamson (13.5 ppg) are both double-digit scorers, while Vaughn also led the team in assists (106) and Williamson was the team's top rebounder (7.3 rpg). Seniors Marcus Sikes (9.5 ppg) and Marvin Gentry (7.4 ppg) round out the returning starters. Eight new faces join the squad this year, including six incoming freshmen. Senior Adam Hrycaniuk, a 6-10 center who sat our last season, will give the Bearcats some much needed size up front while 6-11 freshman center Anthony McClain makes the adjustment to the college game. Freshman forward Alvin Mitchell is expected to make an immediate impact.
BEARCATS UNBEATABLE IN 5/3 ARENA: Cincinnati enters its 19th season in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center with a 245-43 record a .851 winning percentage. UC is 81-19 in Fifth Third over the last six seasons.
EXHIBITION OPENER: In Cincinnati's exhibition opener, the Bearcats watched a pair of newcomers on the interior make significant contributions and a cool under pressure guard seal the game down the stretch, helping Mick Cronin's troops to a come-from-behind win over Northern Kentucky. The 76-71 Bearcats victory featured offensive fireworks by both teams and wasn't decided until the final seconds.
The Bearcats were able to overcome an astounding 16 three-pointers by Northern Kentucky and a 15-point first half deficit by shooting 55 percent from the field and getting some key free throws from Deonta Vaughn down the stretch. UC's top returning scorer knocked down all six of his free throw attempts inside the last minute to preserve the UC win. Vaughn finished with 17 points.
On the inside, Adam Hrycaniuk made his Bearcat debut a good one as he nailed all six of his field goal attempts, finishing with 15 points. Anthony McClain added 10 points off the bench as did fellow newcomer Rashad Bishop.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats will open the 2007-08 season hosting the Peggy Cronin Classic, an exempted round-robin tournament, on Nov. 9-11 at Fifth Third Arena. UC will face Belmont on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m., Western Carolina on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., and Bowling Green on Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.