Cincy tops X; teams play nice
THE CROSSTOWN rivals just played basketball. Sean Kilpatrick scored 25 points and led a second-half surge that carried No. 11 Cincinnati to a 60-45 victory over Xavier on Wednesday night, renewing their rivalry amicably a year after it was marred by a brawl.
THE CROSSTOWN rivals just played basketball.
Sean Kilpatrick scored 25 points and led a second-half surge that carried No. 11 Cincinnati to a 60-45 victory over Xavier on Wednesday night, renewing their rivalry amicably a year after it was marred by a brawl.
The Bearcats (11-0) won their 18th straight game at a downtown arena that is the rivalry's stage for the next 2 years, an attempt to take the nasty edge off the annual game. No technical fouls, no showing off, no dust-ups.
Kilpatrick scored nine points in a 17-4 run in the second half that put the Bearcats ahead to stay.
Travis Taylor led Xavier (7-3) with 12 points.
The game was moved downtown and given a new name - the Crosstown Classic instead of the Crosstown Shootout - after last year's game ended in a brawl. Xavier was unbeaten and ranked No. 8 when it beat the visiting Bearcats, 76-53, last season.
"I thought it was great," Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said of the new setup. "If it's the city's game, we've got to play in downtown Cincinnati and let the fans come."
In other games *
At Louisville, Wayne Blackshear's 18 points helped the No. 5 Cardinals (10-1) roll past Florida International, 79-55, in the first meeting between Louisville coach Rick Pitino and Richard Pitino, his son and Panthers counterpart. The younger Pitino, 30, served two stints as a Louisville assistant before taking over for Isiah Thomas at FIU this season.
* At Texas, Sheldon McClellan scored 18 points and the Longhorns (7-4) upset No. 23 North Carolina, 85-67. Reggie Bullock led the Tar Heels (8-3) with 18 points.
* At Duke, Seth Curry scored 20 points and the No. 1 Blue Devils (10-0) reeled off 23 straight points in an 88-47 rout of Cornell (4-7).
* At Indiana, Cody Zeller finished with 16 points and six rebounds, leading the No. 6 Hoosiers (10-1) to a 93-54 rout of Mount St. Mary's (4-5).
* At UNLV, Anthony Bennett's 20 points led the No. 21 Runnin' Rebels (10-1) over Northern Iowa, 73-59.
* At Florida, Mike Rosario had 20 points and six rebounds and the No. 8 Gators (8-1) routed Southeastern Louisiana, 82-43.
* At Gonzaga, Przemek Karnowski had 14 points, and the No. 14 Bulldogs (11-1) beat Campbell, 74-52.
* At Creighton, Avery Dingman had 21 points as the No. 17 Bluejays (11-1) beat Tulsa, 71-54.
* At New Mexico State, Kendall Williams had 24 points and No. 16 New Mexico (12-0) won, 68-63.
* At Notre Dame, Jack Cooley and Jerian Grant scored 14 each to lead the No. 22 Fighting Irish to an 85-57 win over Kennesaw State (1-9).
* At Oklahoma State, Markel Brown scored 17 points to lead the No. 24 Cowboys (9-1) over Texas-Arlington, 69-44.
* At Coastal Carolina, Wildwood (N.J.) Catholic product Anthony Raffa had 25 points as the Chanticleers (4-5) beat Clemson (6-4), 69-46.
Noteworthy *
Indiana backup guard Maurice Creek will be out indefinitely after hurting his right foot during Sunday's practice.
* South Alabama coach Ronnie Arrow, 65, is retiring, effective immediately. He is 211-61 in 13-plus seasons with the school, making him the winningest coach in school and Sun Belt history.