CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Tuesday, Cincinnati faced Rutgers in the first round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Gardens. Lance Stephenson, who was just named Big East Rookie of the Year, poured in 13 point, had 9 rebounds and five assists. It was a tight battle all the way with the Cats prevailing 69-68. This was UC's first ever Big East Tournament win.


On Wednesday, the Bearcats faced sixth seeded Louisville in the second round of the Big East tournament and edged their highly rated foes 69-66. Yancey Gates had 16 points to lead the way.


On Thursday, the Cats went up against Bob Huggins and the West 'by god' Virginia Mountaineers. The Bearcats overcame two long scoring draughts and had the ball with the score tied and just six seconds to go. Dion Dixon dribbled the ball out of bounds instead of doing what the coach told him to do. WVA had three seconds and used each one to drop a 21-foot bank shot for the 54-51 win. Lance Stephenson had 19 points.


The Bengals signed free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant to a 4-year, $28 million contract. He has enough speed, toughness and 'bad boy' reputation to fit in nicely with the Bengals.


On Friday in Atlantic City, Xavier met rival Dayton in the first round of the A-10 tournament. Terrell Holloway had 22 points, Jordan Crawford 20 and Jason Love 17 as the Musketeers fought back from being 15-points down to defeat the Flyers 78-73.


On Saturday, in the semi-finals of the A-10 tourney, X played the Richmond Spiders for the second time in two weeks. The last time it went two overtimes in the Cintas Center and the X-men prevailed. How evenly they are matched. Again it went to overtime, but the outcome was not the same: Richmond 89 Xavier 85.

Xavier got a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament and will open on Friday against Tubby Smith's Gophers. UC in in the NIT opening Wednesday, at home, against Weber State.

Everything is going well in Goodyear, AZ. No significant injuries.


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