CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Monday, Xavier played Northern Kentucky University in an exhibition basketball game. They trailed by 3 at the half but won easily 58-44. This is the same NKU team that, just last Wednesday, trailed UC 47-11 at the half. Don't put too much stock in comparative scores especially when they are exhibition games.

Most of this week was spent listening to Bengal players refute and sports talkers and pundits claim there are harmony problems on the 4-4 team. Only winning will solve these problems.

The Reds broke things up a bit by announcing a ticket price increase for next year. The nerve.


Both UC and XU announced the signing of two high school prospects each for next year.

On Friday night at the Shoemaker Center, Mick Cronin's Bearcats opened their regular season with a win over the Howard University Bisons in the Jim Thorpe Classic by the score of 70-39. John Williamson led the Cats with 18 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes.

Saturday afternoon saw the football Bearcats take on their 3rd top ten team this year in the West Virginia Mountaineers. Mark Dantonio's crew was outclassed 42-24. WVU put up 6 touchdowns in the second and third quarters.

In college basketball on Saturday night, XU opened their season with a win at the Cintas Center against the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers 79-46 . Stanley Burrell had 19 to lead the way for the Muskies.

UC played their second game in two nights and beat the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks 67-49. Williamson had 23 for the Cats and Marcus Sikes had a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards.

Sunday afternoon, the Bengals offense got untracked against the San Diego Chargers and their defense hit a season low point. Cincinnati set loads of all-time offensive individual and team records but lost the game 49-41. They gave up an amazing 42 points in the second half. This loss is a season killer.

UC finished their 3-games-in-3-nights season-opening trek through the Jim Thorpe Classic at Fifth Third Arena with a 63-51 win over the High Point University Panthers . HPU and the Cats were tied at the half 28-28 after the Panthers led most of the early going. Cedric McGowan had 13 points and Sikes 12 to lead the Bearcats.