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Monday, December 14, 2009

CINCINNATI FALLS IN EMOTIONAL CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT CLASSIC

There has been a lot of exciting battles in the crosstown shootout between Cincinnati and Xavier over the years. In a rivalry that has seemed to have lost some luster in recent seasons, last night's game might have brought the emotions back as Tempers Flare Like Crosstown Shootouts of Old (Cincinnati Enquirer) before the Musketeers pull off the upset in double overtime, 83-79.

Pushing, shoving and two technical fouls made for a tense atmosphere after Xavier’s Jordan Crawford and UC’s Rashad Bishop got into a scrum with just over seven minutes left in the first half, and each drew a technical foul.

Seconds after the dust-up, Bishop had to be restrained from going after Crawford. A few minutes later, both teams nearly went at it at midcourt during a TV timeout.

After emotions simmered, a classic of a basketball game ensued as 12 ties, nine lead changes and two overtimes followed. Cincinnati rallied in regulation to force OT as Lance Stephenson again showed his enormous potential with a game tying drive to the basket in the final seconds. In overtime, Xavier Rallies to Send Crosstown Shootout into First Ever Double Overtime (Cincinnati Enquirer) before X outscored the Bearcats 9-5 in the second OT.

The big difference in the game was from the foul line. Xavier was 28 of 36 from the stripe while UC was a poor 10-22. Also, Immaturity Helps Doom the Bearcats (CNati.com) as Mick Cronin's team lost their cool and focus. Stephenson glared down the Xavier bench, repeatedly jawed with Musketeers players, found himself in the middle of an altercation and even spent time talking at Musketeers coach Chris Mack, at least according to XU coach in CNati.com.

"True toughness is dealing with the environment and winning the game," Cronin told CNati.com.

It is a lesson for the Bearcats, one that will serve them well, despite the loss, once the Big East battles begin later this month.

Stephenson finished with 22 points for UC. Yancy Gates came off the bench to score 18 in 40 minutes and Deonta Vaughn added 13. Vaughn, however, was just six of 19 from the floor and one of seven from three-point range. He finishes his Crosstown Shootout career with a 1-3 record against XU as the Musketeers have now won three in a row in the series.

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