Musketeers Drop Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout vs Bearcats

Saturday, December 14

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Xavier University

8-3,0-0Big East

Cincinnati

8-1,0-0Big 12

Xavier

Cincinnati

Musketeers Drop Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout vs Bearcats

12.14.24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Season Stats

Zach Freemantle scored a game-high 18 points on Saturday

By: Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier had its five-game winning streak in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout series snapped on Saturday at Fifth Third Arena as the No. 22 Bearcats escaped with a 68-65 victory.

The Musketeers move to 8-3 on the year, while Cincinnati improves to 8-1.

Xavier returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at No. 18 UConn. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. The game will be aired nationally on FS1.

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The opening half had four ties and seven lead changes. Cincinnati took its largest lead of the half, 25-16, with 7:08 on the clock. Xavier responded by going on a 10-1 run capped by a Marcus Foster three pointer, tying the game at 26-26 with 3:18 left in the half.
The Musketeers held the Bearcats without a made field goal in the closing minutes of the first half, but Cincinnati went 4-for-5 from the foul line to take a two-point advantage (30-28) with just over a minute left on the clock.
Zach Freemantle sank his first three pointer of the game as time expired to close the half, giving the Musketeers a 31-30 halftime lead. The senior forward led all scorers with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting at the break.
Xavier opened the second half by outscoring Cincinnati, 8-4, to a five-point lead (39-34) and force a Bearcat timeout. The Bearcats battled back to tie the game at 42-42 with 13:12 on the clock, but Xavier went on an 11-4 run to take its largest lead of the game (53-46) and force a Cincinnati timeout.
The Bearcats responded by outscoring Xavier, 22-12, in the final eight minutes to pull away for their first win the series since 2018. Xavier closed within one point (66-65) with 16 seconds left in regulation on a Ryan Conwell four-point play (fouled on made three pointer; made free throw attempt). Jizzle James knocked down a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to push Cincinnati's lead back to three points with 13 seconds on the clock. A Zach Freemantle three pointer as time expired fell short to seal the win for the Bearcats.
Zach Freemantle scored a game-high 18 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and a game-high three steals.
Ryan Conwell added 17 points and six rebounds. Dailyn Swain rounded out the double-figure scorers with 13 points.
Jerome Hunter finished with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. Dayvion McKnight added a game-high nine assists to go along with four rebounds.
Xavier finished the game with a .379 field-goal percentage (22-for-58) and went 6-for-19 from behind arc. The Musketeers were also 15-for-17 from the foul line.
Xavier won the battle on the glass, 37-36, and scored two more fastbreak points (9-7). Both teams scored 13 points off of turnovers.
The Bearcats held a 19-9 advantage in bench points and scored one more second-chance point (11-10).
Simas Lukošius led four Bearcats in double figures with 14 points. Dillon Mitchell scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Bearcats were limited to a .379 field-goal percentage (22-for-58) and went 5-for-20 from three-point range. Cincinnati was also 19-for-26 from the foul line.