The 88th Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout took place on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. Xavier came into the game 5-0, while Cincinnati only had one previous game sporting a 1-0 record. The energy in the arena was a lot better for this game than it was for the Lipscomb game.
In the first game guard Keith Williams was saddled with fouls, but in the first segment of the game he scored seven points (finished with 11 points in the half) to steady the ship for Cincinnati. This game went back and forth all half, Xavier was led by Paul Scruggs who had a team high 10 points. Xavier shot 5-of-13 from three, while Cincinnati went 1-of-8 from three. Adam Kunkel and Nate Johnson both made a pair of threes for Xavier. Solid play by David DeJulius and Chris Vogt helped Cincinnati, DeJulius eight points, four rebounds and two assists and Vogt had six points. Cincinnati went into the half down 37-35.
The second half started with Rapolas Ivanauskas hitting a three, followed by a Williams and 1 play, a questionable Ivanauskas tech and another Ivanauskas three. It put Cincinnati up 44-40, but Xavier made a run to tied it up at 44. Chris Vogt fouled out on a questionable call, but the big man only had one rebound. Ultimately free throws were Cincinnati’s undoing as they Williams missed a front end of a one and one, as well as Mamoudou, Mika Adams-Woods split a pair and Williams missed two late in the game. Williams stated, “This loss is on him.” Scruggs played well scoring a game high 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block.
The last part of the second half Xavier looked like a team who had already played five games and Cincinnati looked like a team who only played one. Xavier shot 51% from the field, 38.9% from three and 80% from the line. Cincinnati shot 42.2% from the line, 23.8% from three and 68.7% from the line.
Williams finished with a team high 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. DeJulius finished with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. Cincinnati did win the glass 34-31, led by freshman forwards Tari Eason with eight. Cincinnati now 1-1, will be off until Wednesday, where they will play Furman at home.
