Bearcats Battle Illinois State in Paradise Jam Opener

ILLINOIS STATE (2-1) vs. CINCINNATI (2-1)
PARADISE JAM // ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Friday, Nov. 22 // 5:45 p.m. ET
Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center
SERIES INFO: Fourth Meeting; Cincinnati leads 2-1 overall;
Cincinnati leads 2-0 in Cincinnati; 
Illinois State leads 1-0 in Normal, Ill. 
LAST MEETING: Illinois State won 62-52
on Dec. 8, 2007 in Normal, Ill.
STREAK: Illinois State - 1
COACHES: John Brannen is in his first season at Cincinnati (2-1);
Sixth season overall (84-53)
Dan Muller is in his eighth season at Illinois State (141-97);
Eighth season overall (141-97)
AP/USA TODAY RANKINGS (NOV. 18): Cincinnati (--/RV);
Illinois State (--/--)
RADIO: 700 WLW; Mo Egger provides play-by-play
with color analyst Terry Nelson
TV: FloHoops; Danny Lee provides play-by-play
with color analyst Kevin Lehman
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM):
@GoBearcatsMBB or GoBearcatsMBB
 
// GAME PREVIEW 

• The University of Cincinnati (2-1) men's basketball team takes on Illinois State (2-1) in the opening round of the Paradise Jam on Friday, Nov. 22 at the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. 
• The game tips at approximately 5:45 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on 700 WLW and available via an online stream at FloHoops.com (subscription required). 
• The Bearcats are coming off an 85-53 win over Alabama A&M on Thursday, Nov. 11 at Fifth Third Arena. Four players scored in double figure led by Chris Vogt's double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Trevon Scott had 16 points and eight rebounds. Jaevin Cumberland posted 13 points, six assists and five steals.  
• Illinois State dropped a 67-65 decision at to UCF on Sunday. Dedric Boyd led the Redbirds with a game-high 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting. 
• With a win over Illinois State Friday, Cincinnati would play the winner of Bowling Green-Western Kentucky contest on Sunday, Nov. 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET. 
• A loss to Illinois State would result in Cincinnati playing the loser of  Bowling Green-Western Kentucky game on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. ET. 
• Cincinnati's final game at the event will be played on Monday, Nov. 25 against either Nevada, Fordham, Grand Canyon or Valparaiso. Time is TBA. 

// SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

• Illinois State has battled in three close games this young season, trailing by at least nine points before rallying in both of its wins. In their lone loss, the Redbirds led UCF 60-55 with 5:03 left before the Knights put together a come-from-behind win.
• Illinois State was picked to seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference according to a preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media. 
• Redbirds returning starter Zach Copeland was tabbed a preseason third-team All-MVC selection. The senior guard leads the team in scoring after three games, averaging 14.0 points while shooting 45.5 percent (15 of 33) from the field. 
• Another returning starter for Illinois State, junior guard Matt Chastain saw his first action of the season Sunday against UCF, tallying 12 points and six rebounds.
• Sophomore guard Dedric Boyd, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, is averaging 13.0 points while shooting 45.5 percent (15 of 33) from the field through three games. 
• Head coach Dan Muller owns a 141-97 record in his eighth season leading his alma mater. Illinois State has owned the best record of any of the 13 Division I school in Illinois during Muller's tenure. 

// ILLINOIS STATE SERIES HISTORY

• Cincinnati and Illinois State have played three times in series history. The Bearcats won both games in Cincinnati. The Redbirds won the one meeting in Normal, Ill. 
• UC victories include a 91-57 decision on Feb. 2, 1996 and a 76-59 result on Nov. 22, 2005. Illinois State claimed a 62-52 win in the last meeting between the teams on 
• Nov. 25, 2007. 
• VS. THE MVC: The Bearcats improved to 73-33 (.689) all time against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference with their 81-59 home win over Drake on Nov. 11, 2019. 
• UC's record against other conference teams includes: Bradley (19-14), Drake (23-8), Evansville (3-2), Illinois State (2-1), Indiana State (11-1), Loyola (6-6), Missouri State (1-0), UNI (4-0), Southern Illinois (0-0) and Valparaiso (4-1). 
• During its 13 seasons in the MVC (from 1957-58 through 1969-70), Cincinnati posted a 286-76 overall record, 
• 128-52 conference mark, won seven league championships, advanced to five consecutive Final Fours (1959-63) and claimed two national titles (1961 and 1962).
• John Brannen owns a 4-3 coaching mark against current members of the MVC with previous contests against Drake (1-0), Northern Illinois (2-0) and Valparaiso (1-3).
• UC graduate transfer center Jaume "Jay" Sorolla played three seasons at MVC-member Valparaiso prior to joining the Bearcats.

// CINCINNATI VS. REST OF THE FIELD

• BOWLING GREEN: Cincinnati leads 9-1 overall ... Cincinnati won the last meeting, 85-56, on Dec. 4, 2016, in Cincinnati ... Bowling Green's only win came by a 69-67 result on Nov. 11, 2007, at UC's Fifth Third Arena ... The teams have never met on a neutral court.
• WESTERN KENTUCKY: Cincinnati leads 12-6 overall ... The Bearcats won the last meeting, 81-57, on Dec. 28, 1996, at the Gatorade Rock-n-Roll Shootout in Cleveland, Ohio. It remains the only neutral-site matchup between the teams in series history ... WKU's last win in the series came by a 69-58 result on Nov. 27, 1985, in Bowling Green, Ky. 
• FORDHAM: Cincinnati won the only meeting in series history, 73-67, on Dec. 22, 1956, at UC's Armory Fieldhouse.  
• GRAND CANYON: The schools have never met.
• NEVADA: Nevada won the only meeting, 75-73, on March 18, 2018, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
• VALPARAISO: Cincinnati leads 4-1 overall ... Cincinnati won the last meeting, 69-63, on Nov. 19, 2004, in Valparaiso, Ind. ... Valparaiso won the series opener, 75-69 in overtime on Jan. 10, 1948 at UC's Music Hall ... The teams have never met at a neutral site. 

// CINCINNATI IN REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS

• In the last 10 seasons, Cincinnati has won six regular-season tournaments/classics including the 2018 Cayman Islands Classic and 2019 Emerald Coast Classic. 
• The Bearcats topped Ole Miss, 71-57, on Nov. 24, 2018 to claim the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla., last season.

// STORYLINES 

• Jaevin Cumberland enters the Paradise Jam having made at least one 3-pointer in 36 consecutive games, including at least one in every game last season at Oakland. It marks the sixth longest streak in the nation entering the week. 
• Jarron Cumberland needs five points to move past Paul Hogue (1,391 points from 1960-62) for 18th place on Cincinnati's all-time scoring list. He was tabbed the AAC Preseason Player of the Year by the league's coaches. 
• Chris McNeal leads the Bearcats in minutes played (28.7), steals (eight) and assists (nine) through the first three games of the season. 
• Trevon Scott has grabbed 31 rebounds in UC's first three games, marking the senior forward's highest three-game total of his career.  
• UC was predicted to finish third in the American Athletic Conference (behind Memphis and Houston, who tied for first) according to a preseason polling of league coaches in October.