TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati men's basketball team dropped a 77-69 decision to Xavier in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Sunday inside Fifth Third Arena.
Following a driving layup from David DeJulius with 55 seconds left, Cincinnati (1-1) was within three at 72-69, but Xavier (6-0) made five of six free throws in the final minute and held UC scoreless to earn the eight-point win. XU has won six of the last eight games in the annual crosstown battle while UC (1-1) holds the all-time lead in the series 51-37.
Known for its raucous home crowds and atmosphere, this edition of the Shootout was different with only 300 fans allowed in the building due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
UC came roaring out of the locker room at halftime with a 9-2 run to lead 44-39 with 18:30 to go, but Xavier followed with a 5-0 run of its own to knot things up at 44 with 17:25. The second half was a nip-and-tuck affair from there as neither team was able to build more than a six-point cushion into the final minute where XU's free-throw shooting was the difference.
The Musketeers doubled up the Bearcats at the charity stripe, making 20-of-25 free throws while UC was 10-for-15. The Bearcats missed the front end of two 1-and-1's late in the game and were 4-of-9 from the line in the second half.
Keith Williams scored a team-high 18 points along with six rebounds and three assists. DeJulius added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds, one of seven players on UC's roster making their debut in the Crosstown Shootout. Rapolas Ivanauskas pulled down six rebounds and scored 10.
XU's Paul Scruggs led all players with 20 points, including an 8-for-8 effort from the free-throw line. Zach Freemantle added 16 and nine rebounds while Nate Johnson scored 10 points and dished out two assists.
Xavier took a two-point lead into the locker room, leading 37-35 at the break on the strength of five made three pointers. Scruggs led the Musketeers with 10 while Johnson and Adam Kunkel combined to make four of Xavier five first-half triples.
Cincinnati was 1-for-8 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes and scored 24 of its 35 points inside with Williams' 11 points and four rebounds along with DeJulius' eight points and four boards leading the way.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 9, taking on Furman at 5 p.m. ET inside Fifth Third Arena. The game will air on ESPN+ and 700 WLW AM.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Cincinnati men's basketball on Facebook (GoBearcatsMBB), Twitter (@GoBearcatsMBB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsMBB).
Following a driving layup from David DeJulius with 55 seconds left, Cincinnati (1-1) was within three at 72-69, but Xavier (6-0) made five of six free throws in the final minute and held UC scoreless to earn the eight-point win. XU has won six of the last eight games in the annual crosstown battle while UC (1-1) holds the all-time lead in the series 51-37.
Known for its raucous home crowds and atmosphere, this edition of the Shootout was different with only 300 fans allowed in the building due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
UC came roaring out of the locker room at halftime with a 9-2 run to lead 44-39 with 18:30 to go, but Xavier followed with a 5-0 run of its own to knot things up at 44 with 17:25. The second half was a nip-and-tuck affair from there as neither team was able to build more than a six-point cushion into the final minute where XU's free-throw shooting was the difference.
The Musketeers doubled up the Bearcats at the charity stripe, making 20-of-25 free throws while UC was 10-for-15. The Bearcats missed the front end of two 1-and-1's late in the game and were 4-of-9 from the line in the second half.
Keith Williams scored a team-high 18 points along with six rebounds and three assists. DeJulius added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds, one of seven players on UC's roster making their debut in the Crosstown Shootout. Rapolas Ivanauskas pulled down six rebounds and scored 10.
XU's Paul Scruggs led all players with 20 points, including an 8-for-8 effort from the free-throw line. Zach Freemantle added 16 and nine rebounds while Nate Johnson scored 10 points and dished out two assists.
Xavier took a two-point lead into the locker room, leading 37-35 at the break on the strength of five made three pointers. Scruggs led the Musketeers with 10 while Johnson and Adam Kunkel combined to make four of Xavier five first-half triples.
Cincinnati was 1-for-8 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes and scored 24 of its 35 points inside with Williams' 11 points and four rebounds along with DeJulius' eight points and four boards leading the way.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 9, taking on Furman at 5 p.m. ET inside Fifth Third Arena. The game will air on ESPN+ and 700 WLW AM.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Cincinnati men's basketball on Facebook (GoBearcatsMBB), Twitter (@GoBearcatsMBB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsMBB).