The second half of No. 12 Xavier’s 65-55 win over No. 23 Cincinnati in Saturday’s Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout may have been most valuable 20 minutes in all 10 games.
The Bearcats’ comeback bid – facilitated by 20 rebounds, eight second-chance points and nine points off turnovers – tested the confidence of a Xavier team that dominated the first half.
It wasn’t just that season scoring leader Trevon Bluiett went scoreless after the break. UC’s Farad Cobb buried two of his three 3-pointers in less than three minutes and the Bearcats proved how defensive stinginess could affect the Musketeers.