The Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers first played a college basketball game in 1928, with the Bearcats holding an all-time advantage of 49-34 against their rival in what has become known as the Crosstown Shootout, which will renew on Thursday night at (7 p.m., ESPN2) at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.
Thursday's game, however, is a rarity in the nearly 90-yard-old series as only the third time that both teams are ranked entering the game. The Musketeers have knocked off the Bearcats in the previous two occasions, as Xavier defeated Cincy by 10 last season -- 65-55 -- and by six in the 1993-94 season.