X Knocks Off No. 19 UC in "Shootout to Remember"
By
Jay Skeldon,
12/13/2009
A sign in the student section highlights Xavier’s leader in this year’s Shootout. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
Sophomore Terrell Holloway drives past his defender on his way to a three point play that was a key to sending the game to a second overtime period. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
UC’s assistant coaches attempt to control some upset Bearcats. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
After making a steal near mid-court, Mark Lyons lays in two points. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
Kenny Frease gets hacked as he attempts to go up to the basket. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
Senior Jason Love celebrates a victory in his final Shootout as he gets a hug from assistant coach Brian Thornton. [enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens
Leading up to the 77th meeting between intracity rivals Xavier and Cincinnati, there was talk that the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout had lost some of its luster. The two teams quickly dispelled any such notion on Sunday night from the moment the ball was tipped. There was emotion and intensity from players and fans at the packed Cintas Center. There was also pushing, shoving, and plenty of talking as emotions boiled over. And, this year, fans were treated to 50 minutes of action packed excitement as the two teams dueled to a thrilling double overtime finish for the first time in Shootout history. In the end, Xavier head coach Chris Mack called it a "Shootout to remember" as the Musketeers outlasted No. 19 UC, 83-79, before a sold-out crowd on XU's campus.
"I thought that was one of the best Crosstown Shootouts I've been a part of," said Mack. "Either team could have won. I'm tickled to death our team had the toughness and fortitude to stay with it."
Sophomore guard Terrell Holloway took over the game during key stretches in the second half and overtime periods as he recorded a career-high 26 points including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Xavier, which improves to 6-3 on the season, has now won three straight Shootouts and 10 of the last 14 meetings. The Bearcats, meanwhile, drop to 6-2.
The first half was marked by a series of runs. UC won the opening tip and began the scoring with Cashmere Wright's free throw at the 19:03 mark. Then in the ensuing three minutes, Xavier's Dante Jackson drained two 3-point field goals, Jordan Crawford dropped in a deuce, and Mark Lyons swiped the ball from Deonta Vaughn and charged up the court for a lay-in to give Xavier a quick six point lead, 10-4 with 16:19 to play.
But, UC fought back with a 14-0 run that included two threes from Darnell Wilks and a pair of baskets by Yancy Gates. Suddenly, the Muskie momentum had shifted in favor of the Bearcats as UC led, 19-12.
That is when tempers flaired between the two teams as the pushing and shoving escalated, players left the benches to join in the shoving match, and select players from the two teams needed to be restrained.
"My guys lost their cool," said UC head coach Mick Cronin. "We were concerned about everything except execution - defensive and offensive."
After the melee settled down and double technical fouls were assessed to Crawford and Rashad Bishop, Holloway and Xavier responded on the court. Holloway, who was scoreless up until that point, scored six points between the 7:06 and 3:51 marks in the first half to lead a 10-2 Xavier streak. That put the X-Men back on top 24-21.
"We wanted to make sure we kept our composure," said Xavier guard Dante Jackson.
After Cincinnati tied the game at 26 with 2:30 left, Holloway finished off the half by converting two free throws as well as draining a triple with 0:55 seconds to play to push X ahead, 31-26, and take a five point lead to half.
In the second half, Xavier extended its lead to seven points, 35-28, with 18:22. Xavier and UC traded baskets and the Musketeers kept the Cats at bay. Cincinnati did climb to within four points, 39-35, on a Gates' dunk. Then X reeled off six straight points to jump out to its largest lead at 10 points, 45-35.
Trying to climb back into the game, the Bearcats administered fullcourt pressure with around 13 and half minutes to play. UC was able to disrupt Xavier's rhythm and execution as it charged back into the game. The Cats spouted off a 20-6 run that actually put them ahead 55-51 with 5:38 to play. X came back to tie the game at 55 with 4:07 left. The teams traded buckets and the lead shifted back and forth.
With 0:32 second left to play in regulation, Holloway hit a jumper to move X in front, 61-59. UC then called a timeout in which they setup a play for a player that Holloway played basketball with in AAU in New York City - freshman phenom, Lance Stephenson. Stephenson, who finished the game with a career-high 22 points, drove the ball to the hoop to lay in a game-tying basket.
“Lance was my teammate when I was 14," said Holloway after the game. "So, it was two New York City kids going at it.”
Xavier had one more possession to tie during regulation, but a Holloway jumper was errant and Dante Jackson's follow was a half-second too late as the buzzer sounded with the score knotted at 61.
Things began looking bleak for the Musketeers in overtime as they found themselves in a 72-67 hole with 0:58 seconds remaining. But, Holloway put the team on his back by getting fouled and drilling four free throws to pull the team within one, 72-71, with 27 ticks left. UC's Dion Dixon then converted both foul shots of his own at the other end to give UC a three point advantage.
Holloway, who scored a game-high 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting, proceeded to record his biggest play of the game. The sophomore guard drove the ball hard past a Bearcat defender on the right side to record an old-fashioned 3-point play. That tied the game at 74 and sent the contest into a second overtime for the first time in Shootout history.
“I’m extremely proud of Terrell. He worked harder than any kid I have been around in the off season. He was sensational tonight...he did it out of toughness," said Xavier head coach Chris Mack afterwards.
"We knew this is a big game, so we were ready to play," said Holloway.
In double OT, Xavier again found itself trailing early. That is until Xavier tied the game, 79-79, on a Jason Love layup with 2:12 remaining. Love would then hit another layup with 0:40 seconds left to give Xavier the lead for good as the team came away with its third straight win over UC in the Crosstown Shootout.
Love carried the team on the glass as he tied a career-high with 19 rebounds. He also tied his previous career high of five blocks including three in the first five minutes of the game. Love also added seven points in 41 minutes of action to round out his final Crosstown Shootout as a Musketeer.
"Being a senior and going out the right way, 3-1. It’s my fourth year being in it," said the senior Love. "I can’t think of a better way to go out. I’m so proud of our guys.”
The big difference in the game was free throw shooting. Xavier managed to make 28-of-36 of its attempts at the line for 77.8 percent, while UC attempted 14 fewer and made less than half, converting 10-of-22 for 45.5 percent.
"I was really happy with how our guys shot free throws tonight," said Mack. "They were really locked in. We got into the bonus early in the second half.... It was great to see our kids knock them down when it counts.”
Other standouts for Xavier included guards Jordan Crawford (16 points, six rebounds), Mark Lyons (11 points, two assists), and Dante Jackson (9 points). Kenny Frease came off the bench to add nine points and pull down five rebounds.
The Bearcats were led by Stephenson (22 points) and Queen City-native, Yancy Gates, who added 18 points and six rebounds. Deonta Vaughn finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Following the Shootout, Xavier players will focus on exams this week as it finishes out the academic semester. Then it will turn its focus to No. 20 Butler. The Musketeers will travel to Indianapolis to face the Bulldogs on Saturday, December 19. The game, which will be televised nationally on ESPN2, is set for 2:00 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Pregame
Post-game Celebration with the Players and Student Section
XU Head Coach Chris Mack thanks the XU student section
