CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Tuesday, the Reds sent Ryan Freel and two minor leaguers to Baltimore for catcher Ramon Hernandez. I'll miss him.

On Wednesday, the Xavier Musketeers played the Ohio Bobcats at Cintas Center. It was men against boys. The 'X men' polished off their MAC rivals in easy order by a 78-56 score. Their point guard, Terrell Holloway, is back and he made the Muskies (8-0) look like a top ten team.

In prep action on Wednesday, sophomore Taylor Sizer led Mariemont with 16 points and eight rebounds in a heartbreaking 47-45 loss to Wyoming.

Saturday was Crosstown Shootout day. Xavier visited Cincinnati's 5th/3rd Arena and the usual war broke out. After a 14-2 opening run, the Musketeers battled to a 14-point halftime lead. They extended the lead to 17 points before UC went on a run behind Deonta Vaughn who had a game high 27 points. The Bearcats cut the lead to 3 points with about 6 minutes to go but Xavier would not be denied. The Muskies hit all the big shots down the stretch for a 76-66 win. Derrick Brown was awesome with 20 points and ten rebounds, while C.J. Anderson had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The game was highlighted by six technical fouls - four on Xavier (now 10-0). Brown had two technicals and had to leave the game just before the end.

The Bengals tried again for their second win of the season and got off to a fast start against the Redskins. Cincinnati turned a Washington fumble and a Cedric Benson screen pass into a 17-0 lead and held on for a 20-13 win at Paul Brown Stadium. The game was highlighted by a wicked goal line stand.
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