TicketsDec. 13, 2009
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CINCINNATI - The 77th meeting between Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati men's basketball teams proved to be a thriller as the Musketeers defeated the No. 19 Bearcats, 83-79, in double overtime in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Cintas Center on Sunday night.
Lance Stephenson scored a career-high 22 points for the Bearcats and Yancy Gates added 18 points, while XU's Terrell Holloway poured in a game-high 26 points and Jason Love hit a free throw with 10 seconds left in double overtime to seal the win for Xavier.
Cincinnati outrebounded Xavier, 52-43, but fell short in comparison at the free throw line. Xavier scored 28 points on 36 attempts at the charity stripe while UC had 22 attempts and connected on 10.
The local rivalry was the first double overtime game in the series and gave Xavier its third straight win over the Bearcats. The game was physical from the start with UC's Steve Toyloy picking up two quick fouls and Love blocking three shots in the first two minutes. Stephenson hit a 3-pointer to give UC a 4-3 lead before Xavier went on a 9-1 run to give the Musketeers a 12-5 advantage with 14:35 to go in the half. UC responded with a 14-0 run sparked by Darnell Wilks two 3-pointers and a feed to Gates, giving UC a 19-12 lead with 7:45 on the clock.
The Bearcats' run was stopped by two free throws after a double technical foul was called on XU's Jordan Crawford and UC's Rashad Bishop. Xavier went on a 13-2 run and took a 25-21 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.
Emotions ran high again after Love intentionally fouled Stephenson but the Bearcats scored three points off the hard foul and went into the locker room behind, 32-26. Cincinnati shot 28.6 percent from the floor for the half and UC outrebounded XU, 25-16.
The second half was full of runs by each team before UC turned on the press and the Bearcats clawed back and took the lead, 53-52, with 6:35 to go. The Bearcats' 11-0 run gave them a four-point advantage, 55-51, but Xavier went on a 6-0 run and was back on top with 3:18 to go, 58-55. The teams battled back and forth until Stephenson hit a bucket in the paint with 15 seconds left to tie the game at 61 at the end of regulation.
Cincinnati won the tip in the first overtime and jumped out to a 65-62 lead but the Musketeers bounced right back and Holloway scored the final seven points for XU, sending the game to the double overtime tied at 74.
UC won the tip in the second overtime and held a 79-78 lead with 2:53 to go before Xavier went on a 7-0 run to close out the period and hold on for the 84-79 victory.
Cincinnati will play next at UAB in a 7 p.m. game on Dec. 16 in Birmingham, Ala.