Dec. 17, 2012

Xavier University Musketeers (7-2)

vs. No. 11 Univ. of Cincinnati Bearcats (10-0)

Skyline Chili Crosstown Classic

Wed., Dec. 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. ET

U.S. Bank Arena (16,264) in Cincinnati, Ohio

Television: ESPN2 with the broadcast team of Bob Wischusen, Dan Dakich and Andy Katz
Radio: 55KRC-AM with play-by-play from XU Hall of Famer and former Musketeer standout Joe Sunderman (‘79). Analysis will be provided by Xavier Hall of Famer and XU all-time leading scorer Byron Larkin (‘88).

COMPLETE SET OF NOTES/STATS IN A PDF

The X’s And O’s

• Xavier’s annual game versus Cincinnati is now known as the Skyline Chili Crosstown Classic benefitting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This is the 24th straight year that the Xavier-Cincinnati game has been sponsored by Skyline Chili and the 15th straight year it has been broadcast on an ESPN network.

• Xavier and Cincinnati are meeting for the 80th time. UC leads the series 48-31, although XU has won four of the last five games and seven of the last 10. This is the 11th time the game will be played at U.S. Bank Arena, previously named Riverfront Coliseum, but the first time since the 1986-87 season.

• Xavier, 7-2, defeated Kent State 62-55 on Dec. 9 and the Musketeers have been off since that game. XU completed semester exams the week of Dec. 10.

• Xavier freshman Semaj Christon, a former standout at Cincinnati’s Winton Woods High School, leads Xavier in scoring (15.8 ppg.), assists (5.4 apg.) and steals (1.3 spg.). Christon, a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week selection, was recently named by CBSSports.com’s Jeff Borzello among five of the candidates that deserve early national Freshman of the Year consideration.

• Xavier sophomore Justin Martin, who suffered a concussion late in the Vanderbilt game, sat out the Kent State game. Martin, who has scored in double figures in every game he has played this season, is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 ppg. and is third in rebounding at 5.5 rpg., while shooting 59.6 percent from the field.

• Xavier junior Isaiah Philmore, a Towson transfer who became eligible in the fourth game of the season, has averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds over the last four games, including his first XU double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. Vanderbilt.

• Xavier sophomore Dee Davis is third on the team in scoring at 11.9 ppg. and is second in assists at 3.9 apg.

• Xavier senior Travis Taylor is XU’s rebound leader at 6.4 rpg., while scoring 10.1 ppg.

• Xavier fourth-year head coach Chris Mack is 80-32 (.714) overall as Xavier’s head coach. Mack has led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first three seasons, including the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2010 and 2012.

• Xavier is one of only four teams that have made the NCAA Sweet 16 four times in the last five years (2008-12): Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina and Xavier. No team has made all of the last five Sweet 16s. Xavier is one of only eight schools that have made at least the last seven straight NCAA Tournaments.

• Xavier is ranked 11th in the nation in the latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate at 97 percent. Xavier men’s basketball was among 14 XU programs at 100 percent.

• Xavier has graduated each of the last 88 men’s basketball players that have played as seniors, a streak which dates back to 1986.

Xavier Musketeers Men's Basketball

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