CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

Thursday night, Xavier met the Fordham University Rams in an A10 match at Cintas Center and won in a curiously strange game by a 71-56 score. XU completely dominated the first half going ahead by 32 points very quickly. They finished the half ahead by 30. The Rams fought back gamely in the second half and got as close as 13 points. The Musketeers made a school record 15 three-point shots. Justin Doellman had 20 points to lead the way.

It was a tough Friday night for our high school favorites. Mariemont lost to Deer Park; Fenwick got smashed by Alter; Wilmington was edged by Turpin; but, on the brighter side, Hamilton's Big Blue took care of Fairfield rather easily.

Highly respected MaxPreps magazine has Moeller High School's basketball team rated #2 in the nation behind the factory - Oak Hill academy. See www.maxpreps.com

Unpredictable Xavier University traveled to St. Louis to take on the Billikins on Saturday night and got stranded by the weather and thumped by their A10 rival 76-65. As hot as the Musketeers were Thursday night, that's how cold they were tonight. XU (12-5) did not score one point in the first 5 minutes of the game. They didn't score a field goal for the first nine minutes of the game and they ended up behind by 12 at the half. Drew Lavender had a big second half to finish with 16 points but it was not near enough.

On Sunday afternoon, the University of Cincinnati traveled to Tampa to play the South Florida Bulls and got gored by a 74-59 score. The Cats (9-7) lost their fourth in a row and allowed the Bulls to win only their second Big East game in two years. SFU led by 11 at the half and extended their lead to 25 early in the final period. UC ran off 16 in a row in the middle of the second half to draw within 9 at one point but could never get over that hump. The Bearcats lack of size loomed large in this one. Deonta Vaughn had 21 to lead the scoring.