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Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats aim to remain unbeaten in annual rivalry against Xavier

Cincinnati Bearcats host rival Xavier Musketeers in the Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati Bearcats host rival Xavier Musketeers in the Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena. /
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After starting the regular season with a 7-0 record, the Cincinnati Bearcats aim to remain unbeaten at the Xavier Musketeers in the annual rivalry game!

Both programs are hoping to secure a memorable win in non-conference play as the long-time rivals prepare to meet on Saturday night at Cintas Center.

It will be important for the Bearcats to get off to a quality start in the opening minutes and neutralize the crowd as Xavier tries to protect their building.

Stay tuned for coverage as Cincinnati gets ready for the Crosstown Shootout this week with a chance to end a 4-game losing streak against the Musketeers.

Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats aim to remain unbeaten in rivalry against Xavier

  • Date: Saturday, December 9 at 6:30 PM
  • Location: Cintas Center in Cincinnati
  • Series History: Bearcats lead 51-39
  • TV Broadcast: FS1 and fuboTV

Make sure to preview the upcoming matchup with Xavier including the newest odds, players to watch, pregame quotes and more prior to tip off this week!

Players to watch are Cincinnati veteran guards CJ Fredrick and DaVeon Thomas, and frontcourt mates Aziz Bandaogo, Viktor Lakhin and John Newman III.

The Bearcats are coming off a blowout victory over Florida Gulf Coast, while Xavier has lost three games in a row including a recent loss against Delaware.

Xavier is fueled by dynamic backcourt trio Desmond Claude, Dayvion McKnight and Quincy Olivari, along with forwards Gytis Nemeiksa and Abou Ousmane.

Cincinnati Basketball: Preview for the upcoming Crosstown Shootout at Xavier

Claude averages 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game, while Olivari posts 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds on 42.1 percent from 3-point range.

Lakhin leads the Bearcats with 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds on 61.8 percent shooting from the field with five consecutive double digit scoring outings.

The annual clash against Xavier is a heated battle that extends beyond the court and captivates the attention of the entire city of Cincinnati every year.

Wes Miller’s team is attempting to take down the Big East opponent and stay undefeated with Big 12 play scheduled to get started in less than a month!

Next. Cincinnati Basketball: CJ Fredrick finds a rhythm as the Bearcats blow past Florida Gulf Coast. dark