Cincinnati Ends Five-Year Losing Streak Against Xavier in Crosstown Shootout Thriller

No. 22 Cincinnati Bearcats rallied late to defeat Xavier Musketeers 68-65, securing their first rivalry win since 2018.

• Cincinnati overcame a seven-point deficit with under eight minutes remaining, highlighted by a decisive 17-3 run led by Simas Lukosius' clutch second-half performance.
• Xavier's Zach Freemantle, who scored 18 points, missed a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, sealing Cincinnati's victory in front of a sold-out Fifth Third Arena crowd.
• The Bearcats' balanced scoring effort included double-digit contributions from Lukosius, Aziz Bandaogo, Dillon Mitchell, and Dan Skillings Jr., who recently returned from injury.
• Xavier struggled with turnovers in critical moments, committing 14 overall, including several during Cincinnati's late-game surge that shifted momentum.
• This win marks Wes Miller's first victory in the heated rivalry as Cincinnati's head coach, snapping Xavier's five-game dominance in the series.

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