Postgame Notes: CIncinnati 62, Xavier 47

2018-19 Cincinnati Men's Basketball Postgame Notes
nr/rv Cincinnati (9-1) 62, Xavier (6-4) 47
December 8, 2018 • Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati)
86th Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout

Starting Five: G Keith Williams • G Justin Jenifer • F Tre Scott • C Nysier Brooks • G Jarron Cumberland

The Turning Point: After a sluggish start that saw both teams struggle from the field early, back-to-back triples from Jarron Cumberland late in the first half put the Bearcats ahead for good as Cincinnati stretched a six-point advantage at halftime into a 15-point victory in the 86th edition of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Cincinnati grew its lead to as much as 20 points in the second with Cumberland adding 11 of his game-high 19 points as the Bearcats picked up their ninth win in a row.

Leaders: Jarron Cumberland scored 19 points to lead a trio of Bearcats in double digits with Keith Williams adding a career-high 16 and Trevon Scott chipping in 10. Scott also pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Quentin Goodin led Xavier with 12 points while Paul Scruggs added 11 points for the visitors.

// TEAM NOTES

• Cincinnati improved to 9-1 overall on the year as the Bearcats won their ninth game in a row while Xavier fell to 6-4 overall.
• IN THE SERIES: Cincinnati moved to 51-35 in the all-time series with a 9-5 record when the game is played inside Fifth Third Arena while improving to 12-6 in all on campus games (3-1 in the Armory Fieldhouse).
• The 47 points allowed today are the second-fewest in a game played at Fifth Third Arena in the series, just one more than the 46 points surrendered in a 66-46 victory Jan. 6, 2011. The 15-point margin of victory also ranks as the fourth-largest inside Fifth Third Arena with a pair of 20-point wins (12/14/01 and 1/6/11) leading the way and an 18-point win (1/29/92) ahead of today. Overall, the 47 points allowed marks the 10th time in the history of the series the Bearcats have held the Musketeers to 50 or fewer points in a contest.
• The 47 points allowed today are the fewest allowed this year, surpassing the 49 Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored earlier this year. It marks the 66th time a Cronin-led squad has held an opponent under 50 points in a game with UC holding a 62-4 record.
• The Bearcats are now 39-2 at home since the start of the 2016-17 season.
• HALFTIME REPORT: The back-and-forth first half saw the Bearcats grab a six-point advantage at the break with Keith Williams providing a needed spark with 10 points as Cincinnati lead, 28-22. With 3:56 remaining in the half, UC held a 20-18 lead before Jarron Cumberland connected on back-to-back treys to put the Bearcats ahead by eight, the largest lead for either team in the opening stanza. Quentin Goodin led the scoring for the Musketeers with six.
• Cincinnati committed just five turnovers in the game, surpassing its season low of seven (vs. Ole Miss). That turnover total nearly made its way into the record books as the fewest the Bearcats have allowed in a game stands at three (seven times) with the Top 10 being rounded out by four games with just four. For the game, UC forced 12 turnovers and scored 15 points off those Xavier errors while the Musketeers scored just two points off UC's five miscues.
• The Bearcats have won nine games in a row and, with a win in their next game (Saturday, December 15 at #22 Mississippi State), UC would record its sixth streak of 10 wins in a row or more under Mick Cronin. To date, Cronin-led teams have recorded streaks of 16 (2017-18), 15 three times (2016-17, 2013-14 & 2010-11) and 12 (2012-13).
• Xavier shot 35-percent for the game (18-of-51), including just 20-percent from beyond the arc (5-of-25), marking the sixth time this year Cincinnati has limited a foe to under 40-percent shooting from the field.
• Cincinnati posted 16 assists on the day, the sixth time (in 10 games) this year the Bearcats have recorded 15 or more in a game. It also is the second game in a row UC has done so after posting 15 against Northern Kentucky last time out.
• Today's attendance was 12,513, the second sellout (Ohio State) this season in newly renovated Fifth Third Arena.

// PLAYER NOTES

• Trevon Scott entered the year having played 71 games in his first two years and had not recorded a double-double. With today's 10 points and 10 rebounds, Scott recorded his third double-double in 10 games this season and his second in as many games after scoring 22 points and pulling down 10 boards against NKU. Scott finished the game with one steal and one block as well.
• Keith Williams recorded a career-high 16 points on the day as he was 7-of-14 from the floor. Prior to this year, Williams had just two games with 10 or more points scored and, with today's 16 points, now has six such games, including the last four.
• Justin Jenifer tied his career high for assists as he led the team with nine, the third time he has done that in his career and the first since he dished out nine helpers against USF on Jan. 29, 2017. Today's assist total surpasses his previous season high of six that he recorded twice, most recently at UNLV. Jenifer finished the game with seven points.
• Cumberland ended the game with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, while adding four rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals. With the three treys, Cumberland has now recorded three made threes in a game 16 times in his career, including three times already this season. He also has scored 10 or more points in 45 career games, including nine of the team's 10 games this year.