What we learned from another Cincinnati Bearcats' loss to Xavier Musketeers

On a dreary, gray day the sun shined inside the Cintas Center yet again. Xavier's Musketeers have now won five straight Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootouts, taking Saturday's affair 84-79 over the previously unbeaten University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

Quincy Olivari led all scorers with 27 points, Dayvion McKnight added 20, Desmond Claude had 11 and Abou Ousmane 10. UC was led by freshman Jizzle James in his first Shootout with 19 points. John Newman III in his final Shootout had 18 points and Viktor Lakhin had 17.

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"Sometimes you want it too much, you're like lost in the moment," Newman said of the disappointing result. "I feel as a team we'll be better. We have great guys."

On hand were 10,724, with those in Xavier blue leaving with wide grins.

"We haven't played in an environment like this, we haven't been tested like this yet," UC coach Wes Miller said. "We didn't handle it really well."

Said Xavier's Sean Miller, "I thought tonight's environment here in the Cintas Center was about as good as it gets in college basketball. When your students camp out for a team that's lost several in a row, that's unprecedented."

UC now hasn't won the Shootout since 2018 and it's still been 22 years since the last victory at Cintas Center.

Xavier evens its record at 5-5 and breaks a three-game skid at Cintas Center. For the 7-1 Bearcats, the first loss comes less than four miles from their home gym.

Other than a visit to the Heritage Bank Center to play Dayton next Saturday, UC's next road trip is the Big 12 opener at BYU Jan. 6.

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Known shooters had off nights

Dan Skillings Jr, Simas Lukošius and C.J. Fredrick normally combine for about 30 points per game. Saturday night Lukošius and Skillings had a bucket each and the threesome was a combined 2-for-20 from the field.

Xavier was 8-for-17 from the perimeter, while UC was 5-for-23 with two of those shots from Day Day Thomas and James coming in the game's final eight seconds.

Another slow start

As has been the case recently in the rivalry, Xavier had the opening spurt. Aziz Bandaogo and Ousmane tussled on a jump ball in front of the Xavier students. When Ousmane gestured to the fans, the noise increased and the Musketeers had some early momentum. Xavier led by eight at the half, 35-27. It was the first time all season UC had trailed at halftime and the 27 points was a season-low.

The Bearcats responded in the second half with 52, but Xavier had 49 of their own. UC closed to within four but Xavier held them off and the hot-shooting Olivari would celebrate with the student section.

"Xavier probably feels pretty damn good tonight," Wes Miller said. "I bet they didn't feel good the last couple nights they played. You're going to take it on the chin. I hate that we took it on the chin tonight.

"Our fan base is passionate and they want it badly. I love that. I hope they're pissed that we've lost five (Shootouts) in a row. I'm pissed with 'em! I want it damn badly as did our players tonight."

Cincinnati's Jizzle James carries Bearcats in 1st half

Keeping UC in the game was freshman James who had 14 at the break, surpassing his season-high. He finished with 19 to lead the Bearcats in just over 21 minutes of play.

"It just shows I can play in these types of games," James said. "At the end of the day, I still want to get the win. I was able to make some plays but we didn't get the job done."

1:58

That's the entire amount of time UC had the lead in the game. They never led in the first half but briefly went up 41-40 on a Bandaogo free throw with 16:10 left. Bandaogo had only three points but did pull down 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

Xavier surged back, but a Lakhin jumper put UC in front 45-44 with 13:52 left. Less than a minute later the game was tied at 47. Xavier then went on a 10-0 run behind Olivari and Ousmane and never trailed again.

Points in paint deceiving

UC led in that category 50-32 and outrebounded Xavier 45-41. However, Bandaogo took just two shots on the night as did Ody Oguama. Lakhin took 17 shots, the most of both teams. Xavier's Ousmane at 6-10 had the game's only double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The one that got away

Both Millers liked Quincy Olivari's night of 27 points, 9-for-9 from the stripe and six treys. But, the Rice transfer plays for Sean Miller at Xavier. Not that UC's Wes Miller didn't try to get him. Assistants Chad Dollar and Andre Morgan bird-dogged Olivari early in the portal.

"Coach Morgan called me the first day I entered the portal," Olivari said. "I have a lot of love for those guys. I told them after the game. Coach Wes Miller told me how happy he was for me and how great of a game I had. Coach Dollar, I've known him since he was at Georgia."

Next up?

Xavier hosts Winthrop Saturday night at Cintas Center. UC is at Fifth Third Arena with Bryant on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats lose to Xavier Musketeers Big 12