TicketsDec. 19, 2009
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CINCINNATI - The No. 25 University of Cincinnati men's basketball team hit a season-high 10 three-pointers and had five players score in double figures as the Bearcats rolled to an 80-52 victory over visiting Lipscomb on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. It is the fifth time this season that three or more players have scored in double figures for UC, led today by Lance Stephenson's 19 points.
Dion Dixon added 15 points and Rashad Bishop scored 13 on a perfect night from the floor (5-for-5), which included three treys. Larry Davis chipped in 10 points and Ibrahima Thomas, who started his first game as a Bearcat, scored in double figures for the first time at UC, with 10 points.
Cincinnati (7-3) shot a blazing 54.4 percent from the floor as a team and out-rebounded the Bisons, 40-36. The Bearcats swatted a season-high eight blocks, three coming from Anthony McClain over a 1:21 span. Deonta Vaughn had seven assists for the game, giving him 430 career assists and moving him into third place in the UC record book, in front of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.
The Bison came out strong and went on an 8-0 run after two Stephenson free throws. Dixon scored seven of the next nine points for the Bearcats but the Bisons held on to a 17-12 lead with 10:18 to go in the period. Jaquon Parker knocked down a three pointer, followed by six points from Stephenson, giving the Bearcats a 21-19 lead they would not relinquish. The Bearcats went on a 21-4 run after the Parker three, which included 10 points from Stephenson during the stretch. A Bisons three pointer ended a 2:51 scoring drought for the Bisons but UC led, 33-24, with 2:01 to go in the half. Parker missed a three-point attempt but took a charge on Lipscomb's fastbreak, giving the Bearcats the ball back and allowing Dixon to tack on another basket before the half. UC went into the locker room with a 35-24 advantage.
Dixon and Stephenson each had 13 points in the first half while Thomas had six rebounds and Stephenson dished out three assists and had four rebounds.
The second half started with UC on a 7-0 run that included five points from Davis and a huge block by Steve Toyloy that led to a Thomas dunk from Deonta Vaughn. Vaughn moved into third place in the UC record book with his 426th career assist came on that play. Stephenson contributed with back-to-back jams that snapped a 4-0 run for the Bisons, giving UC an 18-point lead, 48-30 with 14:58 to go. The Bearcats did not allow Lipscomb to get closer than 17 the rest of the game and knocked down six three pointers over the rest of the half.
Thomas finished with a team-high six rebounds while Toyloy, Vaughn, and Bishop each pulled down five rebounds. Adnan Hodzic scored a team-high 18 points for Lipscomb, which dropped to 4-6 on the season.
Cincinnati returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 22 with a 7:30 p.m. game against Winthrop at Fifth Third Arena.