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Bearcats Set to Battle Valparaiso at Paradise Jam

Cincinnati takes on Valparaiso in the third-place game of the Paradise Jam on Monday at 5:45 p.m. ET.

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Bearcats Set to Battle Valparaiso at Paradise JamBearcats Set to Battle Valparaiso at Paradise Jam
The University of Cincinnati (3-2) men's basketball team takes on Valparaiso (4-2) in the third-place game of the Paradise Jam on Monday, Nov. 25 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). 

UC dropped a 91-84 overtime decision to Bowling Green on Sunday. Jaevin Cumberland led the Bearcats with 21 points and six 3-pointers. Chris McNeal added 17 points and four assists. Jarron Cumberland had 11 points. Chris Vogt notched 10 points. 

Valparaiso suffered an 84-59 setback to Nevada earlier Sunday. Javon Freeman-Liberty led the Crusaders with 21 points. 

// SCOUTING VALPARAISO
  • Valparaiso reached the third-place game of the Paradise Jam after defeating Grand Canyon 78-74 on Friday and losing to Nevada 84-59 on Sunday.
  • The Crusaders have three players averaging double figures in scoring, including sophomore guard Javon Freeman-Liberty (22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and a team-high 12 3-pointers), senior swingman Ryan Fazekas (13.0 points in two games) and  junior guard Nick Robinson (10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds). 
  • Freeman-Liberty was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Monday, Nov. 18 after pouring in a career-high 30 points in a come-from-behind 89-76 road victory at SIUE on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
  • Freeman-Liberty and Fazekas both earned All-MVC Second Team honors and Valpo was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll, based on a survey of the conference's head coaches, sports information directors and media.
  • Valpo finished last season 15-18 overall and 7-11 in league action.

// VALPARAISO SERIES HISTORY
  • Cincinnati leads the series with Valparaiso 4-1 overall, having won the last four meetings. The Bearcats own a 3-1 leads in Cincinnati and 1-0 advantage in Valparaiso, Ind.
  • Valparaiso won the first meeting in the series, a 75-69 overtime result on Jan. 10, 1948 at Cincinnati's Music Hall. 
  • The Bearcats won the last meeting, an 88-70 decision on Nov. 19, 2004 at Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena. 
  • This the first neutral-site meeting in series history.
  • VS. THE MVC: Valparaiso is UC's third opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The Bearcats improved to 74-33 (.692) all time against current members of the MVC with wins over Drake (81-59 on Nov. 11 at Fifth Third Arena) and Illinois State (66-65 on Nov. 22 in the Paradise Jam opener). 
  • UC's record against current MVC teams includes: Bradley (19-14), Drake (23-8), Evansville (3-2), Illinois State (3-1), 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 5-3 coaching mark against current members of the MVC with previous contests against Drake (1-0), Illinois State (1-0), Northern Illinois (2-0) and Valparaiso (1-3).
  • UC graduate transfer center Jaume "Jay" Sorolla played three seasons at Valparaiso prior to joining the Bearcats.

// TIP-INS
  • SCOTT ON THE BOARDS: Redshirt-senior forward Trevon Scott has grabbed 49 rebounds through five games this season, including 10 or more three times. It  marks the highest five-game total of his career. He is averaging a team-best 9.8 for the Bearcats this season. Scott led UC, averaging 6.9 rebounds a year ago. 
  • Cincinnati's 55 free throw attempts Sunday against Bowling Green tied for the third most in a single game in school history. The Bearcats also attempted 55 free throws against UAB during the 1997-98 season. The single-game school record is 59 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during 2015-16. 
  • JAEVIN FOR THREE: Jaevin Cumberland made six 3-pointers in Sunday's loss to Bowling Green. It marked the most threes in a game by a UC player since his cousin Jarron Cumberland made six against Wichita State on Feb. 17, 2019. Jaevin has made as many as seven threes in a game twice during his career, including a 27-point effort against John Brannen's NKU squad last season in the Horizon League tournament. 
  • Jaevin Cumberland has made a team-high 15 threes through five games this season. He enters this week first in The American averaging three 3-pointers per game. 
  • Jaevin Cumberland netted 21 points against Bowling Green on Sunday. It marked his 11 game of 20 or more points in his career. 
  • JARRON CUMBERLAND'S 20-POINT GAME: Senior guard Jarron Cumberland scored a game-high 23 points in the Bearcats' win over Illinois State on Friday. It marked his 21st career game with 20 or more points. He has scored in double figures in 37 of his last 39 games dating back to last season. He scored seven of UC's final 17 points during the Bearcats' rally from a 10-point deficit to Illinois State with 7:48 remaining.  
  • VOGT A THREAT INSIDE: Chris Vogt enters the week leading The American in field goal percentage (.710). He has made 22 of 31 tries from the field through five games. He owns a pair of double-doubles already this season, including 13 points and 13 rebounds against Illinois State (11/22).

// STORYLINES
  • Jaevin Cumberland has made a team-high 15 threes through five games. He enters this week first in The American averaging three 3-pointers per game. 
  • Chris Vogt  enters the week leading The American in field goal percentage (.710). He has made 22 of 31 tries from the field through five games. 
  • Jarron Cumberland scored a game-high 23 points in the Bearcats' win over Illinois State on Friday. It marked his 21st career game with 20 or more points. He has scored in double figures in 37 of his last 39 games dating back to last season. 
  • Trevon Scott has grabbed 49 rebounds through five games this season, including 10 or more three times. It  marks the highest five-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.